GENOMICS
As a retired pharmacist my interest in health care has never waned. In the past, a doctor examined a patient looking for identifying symptoms of a disease and treated accordingly. The treatment was predicated on recognizing the disease by the symptoms. In essence there was no other way and the patient`s conversation with the doctor is also very helpful in identifying individual illnesses.
And then, recently ,I read an article in the May-June edition of the “Futurist” called “Adventures in personal Genomics”. The first problem I had, was to understand the meaning of the word Genomics. My dictionary, a relic from 1984 had no such word and it took “Google” to enlighten me. The Genome is the complement of genetic material within an organism. In May 2002, Francis Collins, then director of the National Human Genome Research Institute testified before a House of Representatives committee on health, his vision for the future of genomic medicine. His prediction: In the next 10 years predictive genetic tests will exist for many common human ailments and they will be able to predict inherited risks, so that each of us can learn health-wise what our future can hold in store for us. We will have the ability to really practice disease prevention. Your genome can predict illnesses and if standard doses of drugs are too strong or not strong enough.
The Federal Drug Agency in the U.S. is keeping a close eye on companies offering this service as they are afraid that individuals will self-diagnose or self-manage their own medications. The F.D.A. has another major headache. With the advent of the new technology, it brings to the forefront the presence of personalized medicines that treat so-called orphan diseases. These diseases have a very small population base. The drugs used are effective but because of the small market , the costs per individual could be as high as $300,000 per year. As an example Cystic Fibrosis can be treated with a new pharmaceutical called Kalydeco. Why are the charges so high? The manufacturer`s response is predictable. They have few patients and want to recoup their costs of research and development as quickly as possible. If the patient has no insurance the drug is provided free, but for how long will the insurance companies or the government pay the price? Another reason for the high price is the fact that new drugs are always reaching market and their drug may have no customers, as it is replaced by even newer cures.
