Gene Therapy
Gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease.
Rather than altering the disease phenotype by using agents who interact
with gene products, or are themselves gene products, gene therapy can
theoretically modify specific genes resulting in disease cure following
a single administration. Initially gene therapy was envisioned for the
treatment of genetic disorders, but is currently being studied in a
wide range of diseases, including cancer, peripheral vascular disease,
arthritis, neurodegenerative disorders and other acquired diseases.
Even though the range of gene therapy strategies is quite diverse,
certain key elements are required for a successful gene therapy
strategy (i.e. cloning). The most elementary of these is that the
relevant gene must be identified and cloned. Upon completion of the
Human Genome Project, gene availability will be unlimited, but until
then the starting point for any gene therapy strategy remains gene
identification and cloning for relevant genes related to the disease.
Once the gene has been identified and cloned, the next consideration
must be expression. Questions pertaining to the efficiency of gene
transfer and gene expression remain at the forefront of gene therapy
research. Currently many debates in the field of gene therapy revolves
around the transfer of desired genes to appropriate cells, and then
obtaining sufficient levels of expression for disease treatment.
Hopefully, future research on gene transfer and tissue-specific gene
expression will resolve these issues in the majority of gene therapy
protocols. Other important considerations for a gene therapy strategy
include a sufficient understanding of the pathogenesis of the targeted
disorder, potential side effects of the gene therapy treatment, and
understanding of the target cells to receive the gene therapy.
Gene transfer vector is the mechanism by which the gene is transferred
into a cell. Currently there are at least 150 clinical gene therapy
protocols worldwide. Since the approval process for these protocols is
not as public outside the U.S., it is difficult to obtain an exact
number of worldwide protocols. Of the publicized protocols, 125 are
approved in the United States, 48 in Europe and at least 1 each in
China and Japan. As of 31 December 1995, 1024 patients had been treated
in either a gene transfer or gene therapy protocol. Much controversy
exists regarding how many of these have benefited from their gene
therapy, and no one has yet been cured.
Public controversy in the field of human gene therapy is driven by
several factors. Ordinary citizens as well as scientists easily
understand the enormous potential of gene therapy, but the former may
not appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainly that lies in the
immediate future. The financial interests of biotechnology firms and,
Monsanto Company is a large multinational agricultural conglomerate that supplies genetically engineered products to the market. The enormity of its financial muscle makes it a strong market force. The company has been engaged in unscrupulous activities while receiving protection from the government and other government agencies in its undertakings. This analysis utilizes a heuristic approach to dissect the Monsanto’s relationship and performance in the market amidst ethical, social and legal odds.
Lehman, Bruce. 2003. “The Pharmaceutical Industry and the Patent System”. International Intellectual Property Institute. Pages 1-14.
In 2000, Rich Kender, Vice President of Financial Evaluation and Analysis at Merck & Company was discussing the opportunity of investing in licensing, manufacturing and marketing of Davanrik, a drug originally developed to treat depression by LAB Pharmaceuticals. LAB proposed to sell the right of all the future profit made from the successful launch of Davanrik at the cost of an initial fee, royalty payments and additional payments as the drug completed each stage of the approval process. Merck & Company's organizational goal is to constantly refresh it's company's drug development portfolio and reach as many customers as possible during the patented time. So there was not only the potential of financial gain or quantitative aspect of the offer, but also the qualitative value which will be added by getting better positioning in the risky pharmaceuticals industry.
Ever look up at the sky and just wonder if there is life anywhere else? Have you seen anything in the sky that is almost unexplainable? What if your thoughts really came true? The thought of the existence of aliens seems to have been around since the beginning of time. There is one incident in particular that really hits home when talking about the subject, the UFO incident of Roswell, New Mexico.
In September 14, 1990, an operation, which is called gene therapy, was performed successfully at the National Institutes of Health in the United States. The operation was only a temporary success because many problems have emerged since then. Gene therapy is a remedy that introduces genes to target cells and replaces defective genes in order to cure the diseases which cannot be cured by traditional medicines. Although gene therapy gives someone who is born with a genetic disease or who suffers cancer a permanent chance of being cured, it is high-risk and sometimes unethical because the failure rate is extremely high and issues like how “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy can be distinguished still haven’t been answered satisfactorily.
The point at which they decide to produce will rest on their own adversity of revenue, risk and effort. The company also needs to know the price elasticity of the curve: the greater the price elasticity, the more a company such as Pfizer will struggle to establish high prices and a high volume. Although monopolies appear damaging at times, there are arguments that they are an advantage to society. Monopolies in the pharmaceutical industry drive companies to pursue research and development (R&D) efforts to gain new patents. According to a 1992 study, among the 24 U.S. Industry groups, pharmaceuticals dedicated 16.6% of their amounts to basic research, while all other industries averaged at 5.3% (Sherer 1307).
In this paper, I will argue that genetic therapies should be allowed for diseases and disabilities that cause individuals pain, shorter life spans, and noticeable disadvantages in life. I believe this because everyone deserves to have the most even starting place in life as possible. That is no being should be limited in their life due to diseases and disabilities that can be cured with genetic therapies. I will be basing my argument off the article by “Gene Therapies and the Pursuit of a Better Human” by Sara Goering. One objection to genetic therapies is that removing disabilities and diseases might cause humans to lose sympathy towards others and their fragility (332). However, I do not believe this because there are many other events and conditions in society that spark human compassion and sympathy towards others.
We may never know what lays beyond our night sky. It may be nothing, or our Government may be hiding everything from us, perhaps our President is behind these cases as well. This is the mystery that will trouble us for generations, but using evidence such as the LA shooting back in World War II, It is easy to gleam that: Aliens, Do, Exist.
The pharmaceutical and biotech industries must be free to develop and research life saving medicines and other advancements that will benefit society. If this cannot be done, progress would never be made. People would still be contracting polio a...
Maris, D. (2012) ‘What’s Really Driving the Pharma M&A Frenzy’, Forbes, 27 April [Online]. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmaris/2012/04/27/pharma-feeding-frenzy/ (Accessed at: 15 December 2013)
Selsam, Howard, and Harry Martel. Reader in Marxist Philosophy: From the Writings of Marx, Engels, and Lenin. New York: International, 1963. Print.
Whether or not the Roswell incident truly involved a UFO remains unclear. How ever, the military cover-up only served to fuel the fire of our imaginations. Interest continues to grow, as questions remain unanswered. Even Bill Clinton has been quoted as saying “…If the United States Air Force did recover alien bodies, they didn’t tell me about it either, and I want to know”(qtd. in Wright 105).
The original case was about Chiron, a biotechnology company, in the United States. Chiron was acquired in 2006 by Novartis, a Swedish company formed by the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz Laborites. Since Chiron no longer exists, we have focused our case around Novartis as of 2013. Novartis specializes in diagnostic services, generic and name brand medications, ophthalmological tools, as well as a small segment in pet health. The business prides itself in producing the latest drugs, hiring the best talent, and being a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry.
Karl Marx is among the most important and influential of all modern philosophers who expressed his ideas on humans in nature. According to the University of Dayton, “the human person is part of a larger history of life on this planet. Through technology humans have the power to have an immense effect on that life.”[ii] The people of his time found that the impact of the Industrial Revolution would further man’s success within this world and would ensure his success as a species. Marx was extremely radical in finding that this was a positive impact on humans in nature.
What is peer pressure? Peer pressure is the influence of a social group on an individual. It is one thing that all teens have in common. You can't escape it. It is everywhere. No matter how popular you are or how together you feel, sooner or later you will have to face peer pressure. Teenagers feel social pressure to conform to the group of peers with whom they socialize. This can influence how you dress, what kind of music you listen to, and what types of behavior you engage in, including risky behaviors such as using drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, and engaging in sex. The intensity and kind of influence of peer pressure differs from situation to situation.