BiDil: The benefits of racial profiling
From the time of the Nazis (or even before then) up through racial profiling in the distribution of speeding tickets, defining a group by genetics or actively targeting a group by race has resulted in nothing but scary consequences for all involved; however, where society finds taboo, pharmaceutical companies envision dollar signs. Epidemiological studies have conclusively shown a linkage between races and certain diseases. For example, white females have a slightly higher mortality rate from ovarian cancer than black women and black males have about a 2-3 times greater mortality rate from prostate cancer than white males. It is unclear whether these linkages result from socio-economical factors such as access to health care and diet, or genetic factors. Regardless of the actual cause, pharmaceutical and biotech companies are not ignoring the trends.
This morning NPR reported on the combination therapy BiDil from Nitromed Inc. BiDil is being considered as a treatment for heart failure specifically for African Americans. According to Nitromed, African Americans produce lower levels of nitric oxide which aids in the dilation of blood vessels as well as preventing clotting. BiDil acts by providing nitric oxide to the patient (the isosorbide dinitrate portion) as well as dilating the blood vessels and protecting the nitric oxide (the Hydralazine portion). BiDil was tried as a drug in the 1980's but failed clinical trials using a multi-racial sampling, but recent results show extraordinary promise in selectively using this drug to treat African Americans with heart failure. Nitromed gained support from The Association of Black Cardiologists, the National Medical Association, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus; however, some researchers are skeptical citing differences between African Americans and Africans to illustrate that the issue at hand goes way beyond genetics.
What will be the repercussions of this new strategy on big pharma? What happens if an inferior product is created? Custom drugs are definitely on the horizon and this may simply be the first step in a logical progression. Soon it will be less likely a question of what race are you, but who are you and what did you have for breakfast this morning. Me? I had coffee and an apple....gotta keep that doctor away, don't I?
This morning NPR reported on the combination therapy BiDil from Nitromed Inc. BiDil is being considered as a treatment for heart failure specifically for African Americans. According to Nitromed, African Americans produce lower levels of nitric oxide which aids in the dilation of blood vessels as well as preventing clotting. BiDil acts by providing nitric oxide to the patient (the isosorbide dinitrate portion) as well as dilating the blood vessels and protecting the nitric oxide (the Hydralazine portion). BiDil was tried as a drug in the 1980's but failed clinical trials using a multi-racial sampling, but recent results show extraordinary promise in selectively using this drug to treat African Americans with heart failure. Nitromed gained support from The Association of Black Cardiologists, the National Medical Association, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus; however, some researchers are skeptical citing differences between African Americans and Africans to illustrate that the issue at hand goes way beyond genetics.
What will be the repercussions of this new strategy on big pharma? What happens if an inferior product is created? Custom drugs are definitely on the horizon and this may simply be the first step in a logical progression. Soon it will be less likely a question of what race are you, but who are you and what did you have for breakfast this morning. Me? I had coffee and an apple....gotta keep that doctor away, don't I?
posted by Schitzo at
10:49 AM
