SAN FRANCISCO – Following a year in which, for the first time ever, the FDA approved more orphan drugs than non-orphans and the number of big pharma approvals fell, panelists at Biotech Showcase highlighted a litany of reasons the space is continuing to prove attractive, despite challenges. Citing cooperative regulators and compelling cost structures, they underscored some of the most convincing reasons to pursue orphan status and the growing interest from bigger companies in the space, most evident in Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.'s recent acquisition of Shire plc.