| I work in the biotechnology field and feel very proud that this industry sector has introduced new drugs in the last 20 years that have addressed significant unmet needs in terrible diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and others.
The best insulin products on the market are produced from human pancreas cells. Just two years ago, the best products for rheumatoid arthritis were derivatives of Ibuprofen (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS). Today, fully humanized monoclonal antibodies produced in mice make lessen the burden of this horrible disease.
While a minority of scientists feel that we can develop drugs without the use of embryonic stem cells, the majority differs in opinion.
What is more important is how we use drugs. We can make the same argument with guns, liquor or even reef keeping. Abuse of any product or technology can lead to problems.
We can't stop the development of technology. In the future, every human being will have their complete genome identified on a chip. Scientists will be able to identify the diseases that you are prone to contract and will result in earlier diagnosis or even total prevention of a disease.
Fifty or so years ago, many people argued that making penicillin was overplaying the role of God. Without this drug, and all of its successive generations, millions of people would have died of infections. In fact, each one of us may not have been here at all because our parents or grandparents may have died due to an infection.
Responsibility is the answer. I don't like to read about rogue groups that claim they have cloned babies. But I rejoice when I hear that a patient was able to live due to modern technology.
Below, I am quoting a letter that was sent by Carl Feldbaum, the president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization to president George W. Bush:
"In contrast to work with adult cells, the enormous promise and potential therapeutic value of human embryonic stem cells is based on a substantial body of research generated over the past 20 years with mouse embryonic stem cells. This research and the existing work on human embryonic stem cells strongly suggest that embryonic stem cells are capable of generating many, if not all, of the cell types that make up a human organism, but that these cells by themselves
cannot form an adult organism. Most important, mouse embryonic stem cells have been used in a variety of "proof of therapeutic principle" experiments in several animal models of human disease. For example, these cells appear to be able to produce neural progenitors that can repair spinal cord damage and reconstitute various types of brain cells. If reproducible with human embryonic stem cells, we may be able to treat Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. We may also be able to produce bone marrow cells to treat cancer and other diseases, and pancreatic cells to alleviate diabetes. In fact, we may be on the verge of a new era of medicine, one in which cell therapy could help restore normal function to a variety of affected tissues.
The majority of Americans support federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. A nationwide poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation International found that 74% of those queried favor funding of stem cell research by the NIH. This is born out by strong bipartisan congressional support for this research from all political perspectives. It is also important to note that while private firms are already conducting research on pluripotent stem cells, these firms are limited in number, which limits the pace of discovery.
While we recognize the legitimate issues raised by this research, it is also true that the embryonic stem cells being used in research will be discarded in any case. Under these circumstances, it would be tragic to waste this opportunity to pursue the work that can potentially help millions of people in need. Ethical safeguards developed by the NIH respect both the moral status of the embryo and public sensitivity to this issue, while ensuring that progress in critical medical research continues. Given the great hope that stem cell research provides to those who are suffering or dying from devastating illnesses, we urge you to allow this research to move forward with federal support."
Craig, don't take me the wrong way, but just as you commit to make people rich, my commitment in this industry is to add to the quality of human life. My company is engaged in a cellular autologous T-cell mediated approach to multiple sclerosis. While our industry jargon may not be well understood by people outside the industry, the biotechnology sector is using what we know to find better therapies for people suffering from terrible diseases. Sometimes our own peptides, proteins, or stem cells make a better therapy than attempting to find small molecules that have clinical efficacy but often come with substantial side effects. A molecular approach to medicine will result in a greater percentage of patients who respond to drug therapy, fewer side effects and better long term success.
And here I thought I came home to escape for a few hours........thinking about my reef tank!!!
Mike |