Posted on 07/01/2011 10:36:46 PM PDT by neverdem
A dispatch on the value of failed drugs, new vaccines against superbugs, and the prospect of a molecular stethoscope.
Fifteen thousand conventioneers are gathering this week at the Washington, D.C., convention center for the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s annual convention to talk science, deals, and policy. At such sprawling meeting, a reporter can only get glimpse of what is going on in this vast industry. But many of the most interesting sessions and conversations revolved around ways to insure that future medicines are better targeted, more personalized, and faster to market.
The keynote talk by National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins was my first event. Collins began by touting his proposal to create the new National Center for Advancing Translational Science, (NCATS) (which I have critiqued earlier). Collins noted that the drug discovery process is “painful, slow, expensive, and failure-filled.” He added that the drug discovery process experiences a 98 percent failure rate and takes about 14 years to get a new drug to the bedsides of patients.
Despite the dismal state of drug discovery now...
--snip--
One example how science ripens is recent findings about the Warburg effect in cancer. In 1931, German physiologist Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize for his work on the glucose metabolism of cancer cells. It is only recently, however, that researchers have begun to tease apart the precise changes that occur in cancer metabolic pathways. Third Rock Ventures partner Homcy noted that new research has found that all solid tumors switch on the same metabolic enzymes used by fetal cells to promote rapid growth. Based on this, the biotech startup Agios is trying to uncover new targets for anti-cancer drugs...
--snip--
Rheumatoid arthritis is not one disease, it’s many diseases. Effective treatments will have to be tailored to each patient’s version of it...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Wish I could have gone, I don’t live that far away.
Researchers find herbal medicine treatment reduces inflammation in allergen-induced asthma
Magnetic memory and logic could achieve ultimate energy efficiency
FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.
Since the review of the biotech convention touches on many pertinent topics, i.e. stem cells, microbiology and diabetes, I included those lists.
bttt!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.