More on the Ebola Crisis

The current Ebola outbreak has raised many issues pertaining to our current drug development and approval process.  The WHO has issued a statement regarding the ethics for use of experimental drugs in patients infected with Ebola (http://www.nature.com/news/should-experimental-drugs-be-used-in-the-ebola-outbreak-1.15698).  A major concern is whether or not these drugs are effective (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/business/drug-used-for-ebola-related-virus-shows-promise.html?_r=0).  Unfortunately, cases of fraudulent claims have been reported by the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm410086.htm).  Since our current supply is limited, what criteria should be used in deciding which patients will receive the drug (http://www.nature.com/news/scale-up-the-supply-of-experimental-ebola-drugs-1.15736)?.  Finally, how do we better protect the health care workers (http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/40864/title/Ebola-s-Toll-on-Healthcare-Workers/)?

Ebola virus and the Kentucky Connection

This past week, the Ebola epidemic has reached home as two healthcare workers have transported from Africa to Emory University Hospital.  Their treatment, which is still considered to be experimental, is described here as a "three anibody cocktail"  http://www.the-scientist.com//?articles.view/articleNo/40700/title/Serum-to-Stop-Ebola-/.  The drug was generated in Owensboro Kentucky using tobacco plants to generated the antibodies http://www.kentucky.com/2014/08/04/3365612/drug-given-to-american-ebola-victims.html.  This will be the first time the drug has been tested in humans.

Hit hard and hit fast....how to kill bacteria

This news story recently published in PNAS gives a very nice, brief review on the history of antibiotics and a few strategies that may be used for developing new ones-http://www.pnas.org/content/111/31/11227.full.

Is Sovaldi worth its $84,000 price tage?

One of the biggest healthcare issues that is being discussed especially in the United States is cost and in particular, whether newly developed drugs are worth their relatively high cost.  In other words, does the new drug bring a significant improvement in our ability to treat diseases  that is justified by its cost to the patient and/or to society.  One of the most recent drugs that enters into this realm of discussion is Sovaldi that has been developed to treat hepatitis.  http://nyti.ms/1ojC07D

The Pill linked to breast cancer risk for younger women

A number of studies have been performed to try to determine whether taking oral contraceptives impacts a woman's risk for developing breast cancer.  Despite the attention grabbing headlines of this most recent study, the scientists who were interviewed do not think we should be overly concerned that taking the pill will increase risk of developing breast cancer.  Why is that?? It is important to consider how we interpret risk.   The Pill linked to breast cancer risk for younger women