By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    An Expert’s Guide To Building and Improving Endurance
    June 30, 2022
    medical assistants
    What Do Medical Assistants Do On a Day to Day Basis?
    April 5, 2022
    superfoods to help with prostate health
    10 Healthy Foods That Can Help Protect Your Prostate
    August 29, 2022
    Latest News
    Clean Your Mattress Properly to Avoid Common Health Issues
    March 29, 2023
    5 Benefits Of HIPAA-Compliant Answering Services
    March 28, 2023
    3 Ways To Deal With Health Issues In Cities With High Pollution
    March 22, 2023
    What Tools Should Your Caregiver Have?
    March 22, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Should Step Therapy and Prior Authorization Be Outlawed?
    April 9, 2014
    Applying to Medical School – Do You Know What Your Digital Footprint Looks Like?
    April 22, 2013
    employer insurance
    One More Way ObamaCare May Lead to Single Payer
    May 12, 2014
    Latest News
    What Are Bioidentical Hormones Made With?
    March 23, 2023
    Cover Medical Costs of Child Dog Bites with Legal Specialists
    March 23, 2023
    3 Ways to Improve the U.S. Healthcare System By 2030
    March 14, 2023
    6 Steps To Ensure Speed And Efficiency Of Clinical Studies
    March 14, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Medical Megatrends – Genomics
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
healthy travel tips when visiting Australia
7 Essential Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy Visiting Australia
News
health risks of dirty mattress
Clean Your Mattress Properly to Avoid Common Health Issues
Health
eligble for NDIS?
Are You Eligible For NDIS? How To Apply
News
upgrade to your nursing career
4 Pertinent Ways to Upgrade Your Nursing Career
Nursing
career in nursing
8 Keys to A Fulfilling & Successful Career in Nursing
Career
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > Medical Megatrends – Genomics
Medical Innovations

Medical Megatrends – Genomics

StephenSchimpff
Last updated: 2011/09/23 at 7:15 AM
StephenSchimpff
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

 

       EXCLUSIVE POST – Genomics promises to change much of medical care fundamentally, as described in the two prior posts on this subject.  But the ultimate value of this  understanding of basic human biology will come with fits and starts. The saga of belimumab (Benlysta) and Human Genome Sciences is illustrative.

 

       EXCLUSIVE POST – Genomics promises to change much of medical care fundamentally, as described in the two prior posts on this subject.  But the ultimate value of this  understanding of basic human biology will come with fits and starts. The saga of belimumab (Benlysta) and Human Genome Sciences is illustrative.

More Read

strategies for patient engagement

Maximizing Outcomes Through Effective Patient Engagement Strategies

Materials and Techniques for Taking Dental Impressions
How Technology Tools Can Benefit Physicians and Patients
Breakthroughs in Gene Targeting in Mouse Can Help Humans
Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D

        Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) occurs in somewhere between 300,000 and 4 million Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is more common in women than men and more common in African Americans than Caucasians. SLE is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology which can affect many body organs and systems and lead to death. The disease can wax and wane and can flare with activity in the central nervous system and the kidneys. Genomic studies done by Human Genome Sciences (HGS) more than a decade ago showed that it might be possible to create a monoclonal antibody to react against the B lymphocyte stimulator, a cytokine that has been found to correlate with activity in SLE.

            HGS produced the monoclonal antibody – belimumab – and then conducted the required preclinical studies in test tubes and animals to demonstrate its activity and toxicities. With FDA approval it then conducted phase 1 and 2 studies in humans to determine toxicities, side effects and early suggestions of activity in humans. It then proceeded to complete two double blind randomized controlled trials comparing standard treatment to standard treatment plus belimumab in 1684 patients. The results were sufficient to win a 13 to 2 recommendation vote from the FDA’s advisory panel in November, 2010. The FDA announced its approval and the required package labeling in March, 2011. The FDA and HGS have both noted that this is the first new drug for SLE in 50 years and the approval was lauded by the Lupus Foundation of America. The intravenously administered drug will be available for about $35-40,000 per year.

            It all sounds straight forward – good science led to a new drug that should benefit many patients who have had limited treatment choices until now. But for HGS it has been a rocky road at best over the years. Founded in 1992, the company set out to use genomic discoveries to create new pharmaceuticals. By 2000, it was being hailed as an up and coming company and it stock price rose to over $100 per share. But the share price then plummeted along with those of other genomic-oriented companies. Fortunately for HGS, its CEO, Dr William Haseltine, made use of the high stock price to lock in a soon to be much needed cash stockpile. The company’s first drug candidate – to treat leg ulcers – met with failure and was dropped. A second drug – for hepatitis C- looked to be very promising and carried the hopes of staff and investors but a key trial was unsuccessful and HGS ultimately had to make the decision to pull the plug on this drug candidate as well – after expending many millions of dollars in the preclinical- and clinical testing phases. The stock price dropped to a low of 52 cents per share and the cash war chest was running lower and lower. Then – finally – came good news with the two belimumab patient studies and the stock price jumped immediately but to no where near the heights of a decade before.

            Belimumab looks to be a useful addition to the SLE treatment armamentarium. But there are questions and critics. SLE is much more common in African Americans but the two patient trials had relatively few blacks enrolled and there was some suggestion that perhaps they responded less well. The drug is also not without potential side effects including predisposing to serious infection. Further, some calculate that it will take about four (or more) patients treated to lead to one patient benefitting. At $35,000 per patient per year, that means a total expenditure of about $140,000 or more to benefit that one patient.

            My message is that genomics is and will be a transformational megatrend in medical care. But “targeted” therapy is not always all that narrowly targeted in a way that either is effective for all nor is the drug necessarily side effect free – and it may be quite expensive. The story of Human Genome Sciences demonstrates that the path from a genomic discovery in the laboratory to a marketed drug can be long, expensive and fraught with many disappointments along the way. But conversely, innovation as demonstrated here is and will be the lifeblood of continued future success and improved human health. Your comments on innovations in genomics will be appreciated.

 

 

 

TAGGED: genomics, personalized medicine, targeted medicine

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
StephenSchimpff September 23, 2011
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article spacer Hospital of the Future? Chaum Life Center for Personalized Medicine
Next Article When Patients Complain

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

healthy travel tips when visiting Australia
7 Essential Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy Visiting Australia
News March 29, 2023
health risks of dirty mattress
Clean Your Mattress Properly to Avoid Common Health Issues
Health March 29, 2023
eligble for NDIS?
Are You Eligible For NDIS? How To Apply
News March 29, 2023
upgrade to your nursing career
4 Pertinent Ways to Upgrade Your Nursing Career
Nursing March 29, 2023

You Might also Like

virtual reality in optometry
Technology

Virtual Reality Visual Field Test Device in Healthcare

March 22, 2023
benefits of EHR systems in healthcare
Technology

Using EHR systems in healthcare for Cost-Effective Services

February 9, 2023
healthcare seo tips
Medical Innovations

Healthcare SEO Tips to Grow Your Medical Practice

February 8, 2023
patient tracking systems for medical staff and innovation
Medical InnovationsTechnology

Patient Tracking Systems: Improving Facilities for Patients and Medical Staff

January 2, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?