world stem cell trial halted by Geron who halting work in field

[mertle]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15740133

Citing that funding in current economy very difficult to continue work. Some will be disapointed but there many who think its wrong or would not work.

Its dificult one there was people relying on the trials to see if it would improve quality of life. I cant say either way not faced with the issues that make them suffer so badly. I am sceptical with some things science is meddling with put same breath if was in position to need there breakthrough medication to either cure or ease it I would be thankful.

Whether UK National Stem Cell Network can take up from Geron is questionable.

Without stem cell technolog we would not see stories like this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15744176


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15272081

interesting coment on this by prof robin ali

"Most gene therapy is not correcting the gene, it's introducing a new copy of the gene, what's exciting is that this corrects.
"The big problem with individualised medicine is the cost - that is one of the major barriers."

Are we seeing that comment come to fruitation as world economy going into bad recession costs will be stumpling block on medical advancement more than ever before.

Its interesting governments are broke when it comes to all sorts things but yet find money to rage a WAR.

It however takes new ball game about future medical advancements in all fields. The private sector stuggling to maintain Research and development or even justify continueing.

[watzizname]

Saving lives i would think is justification enough, but then I'm not running a private biotech company who's priorities are bound to be somewhat different to others, where the motivation is born out of a desire to actually help those in need, and results aren't determined by the bottom line.

Unfortunately, i think those kind of people, with the required resources are few and far between, and these days at least, found only in movies or a history book..

[mertle]

sadly true what price can you put on peoples health seems we hit borderline private companies hit where it dont justify the outlay.

Wonder if the cheap medication has had impact lots companies spend millions sure enough price of medication reflects that so its expensive. However places like NHS of governments found it costly the cheap medication alternatives sort to undercut.

Net result those companies who do research dont get the financies to justify further medical breakthrough. Are we seeing the issue of ignorance why medication is expensive.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by watzizname

Saving lives i would think is justification enough, but then I'm not running a private biotech company who's priorities are bound to be somewhat different to others, where the motivation is born out of a desire to actually help those in need, and results aren't determined by the bottom line.

Unfortunately, i think those kind of people, with the required resources are few and far between, and these days at least, found only in movies or a history book..

A few years back, I was working as a freight forwarder. One of my major clients (the other being Addis) was Pfizer. We handled the paperwork for a lot of their Middle Eastern exports. There were a lot of these, the value of some of which ran into the millions. As such, I built up a few friends that worked in their complex in Sandwich. I was talking to one of them one day, and the price of drugs came up. Due you know how much (even in 1990) it cost to develop a new drug? £1m? 2? 10? Nope. Try £100m and up.

I was surprised at this, but think about it. The scientists capable of developing this stuff are not cheap, and even once you have employed the scientists, they need time to develop and test the medicine. They will then need time to develop a way to manufacture that medicine (you can have the best medicine in the world, but if you have no way to manufacture thousands of copies, it's not viable). This can take several years. They then need to test the manufactured medicine using various methodologies (which I was told can take up to 10 years). Over time, they refine the manufacturing process to bring the costs down as much as possible, so medicine does get cheaper.

I suspect that the cheaper companies bypass all this cost because they simply get hold of the finished product and reverse-engineer it.

To get back on subject, I read that one of the problems with Stem Cell based medication is that is has to be custom made for the patient. This is going to make it expensive. You'll probably find that a few people on the NHS will get the treatment while it's still experimental (and sponsored by the manufacturer), but after that, the authorities will start to look at each case and think "Ok, we can pay for the medication for one person, or we can pay for heart operations for 10 others". Which do they go for?

[mertle]

thanks Stuart quite insight this problem we have NHS cant afford to pay top mark so bound to goto cheaper but like said ultimate cost could be research into new medical breakthroughs.

Its shame costs has to considered in ideal world companies would get free role to medical advances to cure diseases.

Fear at some point Cancer and other work may forced to be cut back on grounds cost. Lots rely on charities or hand outs to help suport the work but as people belts tighten charities may find it tough.

Yes would think NHS would likely go ten ops rather than one treatment due to cost it has to be individual tailored. Sadly cost come into it they even dont provide some medication as its too expensive.