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Are drug companies denying us the cure for Cancer?
Posted on Jan 18th 2007 2:33PM by Martha EdwardsFiled Under: Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products
Curing cancer is an ultimately important, yet seemingly unattainable goal of organizations and individuals worldwide. But what if the answer was as simple as using a drug that has been around for age? Amazingly, that's what some scientists may believe to the be the key to curing the dreaded disease. Here's the explanation: It was discovered years ago that an inefficient process called glycolysis was used to generate energy in cancerous cells, while healthy cells utilized specialized mechanisms called mitochondria . Glycolysis was always thought to be a symptom of cancerous cells, but some researchers have started to wonder: what if it's the cause?
Studies show that when given a drug called dichloroacetate (DCA for short,) normally used to treat people with mitochondrial diseases, was given to cancer cells, glycolysis stopped and normal the mitochondria process resumed. And, when given to rats, the drugs decreased the size of tumors.
There's a problem though. DCA can't be patented, so drug companies are hesitant to run trials on it because, well, they don't stand to profit from it. So, I may be over simplifying here, but a drug that could change the world is being denied to the public because of the almighty dollar? That's more than a little infuriating -- it's downright disgusting. In the meantime, while drug companies race to find an alternative drug that can be patented and has similar effects to DCA, which will no doubt be outrageously expensive and subsequently not available to the people that need it the most, we'll wait and hope we and our loved ones don't get taken down by the Big C. For some of use, my father for instance, it will be too late.
Studies show that when given a drug called dichloroacetate (DCA for short,) normally used to treat people with mitochondrial diseases, was given to cancer cells, glycolysis stopped and normal the mitochondria process resumed. And, when given to rats, the drugs decreased the size of tumors.
There's a problem though. DCA can't be patented, so drug companies are hesitant to run trials on it because, well, they don't stand to profit from it. So, I may be over simplifying here, but a drug that could change the world is being denied to the public because of the almighty dollar? That's more than a little infuriating -- it's downright disgusting. In the meantime, while drug companies race to find an alternative drug that can be patented and has similar effects to DCA, which will no doubt be outrageously expensive and subsequently not available to the people that need it the most, we'll wait and hope we and our loved ones don't get taken down by the Big C. For some of use, my father for instance, it will be too late.
