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Posted 3/11/2008 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
I spoke with my Dr. today and he was explaining to me how most of the genes and inflammatory pathways of ulcerative colitis and even crohns for the most part have been discovered BUT there is not a big enough market for pharmaceutical companies to develop effective drugs for us. He told me that basically arthritis was at the top of the list and then crohns would get arthrits hand me down drugs and uc got crohns hand me down drugs. This is the reason that remicade took so long to get approved for uc because they didnt believe it would have any positive effect on colitis because its completely different inflammatory pathways involved. So basically all of these new medicines we are getting aren't even being developed for our conditions at all. Pharmaceutical companies are SO sorrupted they want to target as many different conditions at a time as they can and just improve symptoms by say 40% but profit greatly because it is such a broad market range. I hate the pharmaceutical companies.
Posted 3/11/2008 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
As with everything it always comes back to money. If a pharmaceutical company has to spend gazillons of dollars on researching medicine targeting specific diseases they are definitely going to go where they will get the biggest pay off. The biggest pay off is where the most need is and the most need is determined by the numbers of sufferers. When I had UC I knew this. I knew that with only 500,000 people out there with UC (and another 500,000 for Crohn's) that the chances of finding a cure or a better drug was not that good. That being said I have been way impressed with all the new drugs that have been targeted for UC since the mid 1990s. Up until that point the only drug for maintenance was sulfasalzine. It's sad but it's reality.

Sue
Posted 3/11/2008 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
even if they came up with a medication to cure UC & Crohn's, they wouldn't develop it because they make too much on the drugs that people take everyday to treat their conditions. I've heard along time ago that they do know how to cure diabetes, but they are making too much money off the insulin. Why cure it and not be stringing along all these people for the money they can get off the drugs?????????
Posted 3/11/2008 7:47 PM (GMT 0)

munchkindd said...
even if they came up with a medication to cure UC & Crohn's, they wouldn't develop it because they make too much on the drugs that people take everyday to treat their conditions. I've heard along time ago that they do know how to cure diabetes, but they are making too much money off the insulin. Why cure it and not be stringing along all these people for the money they can get off the drugs?????????

Careful now, they'll call you a conspiracy theorist. See, the flouride in the drinking water didn't get to us all!
Posted 3/12/2008 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
don't expect modern medicine to find a cure for our disease. it's not in their best interest to make us well. or else who would take the countless drugs and have the surgeries if it were not for us. at least in my experience, my gi doc pushed the idea of taking pills than recommending stress reduction or diet to remedy my ailment. it is modern medicine today!!
Posted 3/12/2008 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
I also believe that drug companies don't try that hard to find cures, butttttt scientists who want to become famous will go ahead. I know its not the same, but the guy who ever cures cancer/aids would be very wealthy and the most famous person on the planet.
Posted 3/12/2008 6:59 AM (GMT 0)
I, personally, am grateful for the meds I use to allow me to function as normally as possible...without being "dead" sooner than later.

Nothing is free.

q
Posted 3/12/2008 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
I always worry that a potential cure will be swept under the carpet by the pharmaceutical companies, but I think that better (and more expensive) drugs are in everyones best interest. It's unlikely that we will ever be able to take a pill which will rid us of all symptoms completely, especially considering that each case is so very different.

Stem cell therapy is as close as we can get at the moment (I don't see a j-pouch as a cure myself) and that's still experimental medicine. Even if it gets safer and some sort of approval, it will only be offered to those with an incredibly poor quality of life, or an incredibly large bank balance.

I think probiotics are going to become huge in the next 10 years and perhaps we will see a new type of antibiotic/anti-fungal remedy.

Oh and there's always the option of going to Tijuana and getting some hookworms put in your gut :-)
Posted 3/12/2008 10:22 AM (GMT 0)
Rx companies shoot for the billion dollar drug. When they find it they hit the jackpot... example lipitor etc.

"curing" a condition is not in the best interests of CEO's or shareholders unfortunately. My guess is that donations to organizations like CCFA that can lobby or fund research are our best bets.
Posted 3/12/2008 10:48 AM (GMT 0)

billo said...
I also believe that drug companies don't try that hard to find cures, butttttt scientists who want to become famous will go ahead. I know its not the same, but the guy who ever cures cancer/aids would be very wealthy and the most famous person on the planet.

Not so fast. Here is a list of dead scientists that were either murdered or died mysteriously. So you draw your own conclusions.

http://www.stevequayle.com/index1.html
http://home.comcast.net/~typezero/
Posted 3/12/2008 1:46 PM (GMT 0)

xtremefit said...


Not so fast. Here is a list of dead scientists that were either murdered or died mysteriously. So you draw your own conclusions.

http://www.stevequayle.com/index1.html
http://home.comcast.net/~typezero/

Only 81 deaths since 2001 on the first list and 50 since 1994 on the second. Those are relatively small numbers compared to the number of scientist world wide. I would say that all that proves is that some scientist die mysteriously just like many other people, nothing more.
Posted 3/12/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
RE: scientists becoming wealthy/famous for curing major ills-- who remembers Jonas Salk or Albert Sabin these days? eyes  / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)


Post Edited (Old Hat) : 3/12/2008 8:20:06 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/12/2008 2:18 PM (GMT 0)

Paul L said...

xtremefit said...


Not so fast. Here is a list of dead scientists that were either murdered or died mysteriously. So you draw your own conclusions.

http://www.stevequayle.com/index1.html
http://home.comcast.net/~typezero/

Only 81 deaths since 2001 on the first list and 50 since 1994 on the second. Those are relatively small numbers compared to the number of scientist world wide. I would say that all that proves is that some scientist die mysteriously just like many other people, nothing more.

How many scientists worldwide are ever onto something in their research? You think it's coincidence that these scientists were mostly obducted and murdered?!

Posted 3/12/2008 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
 Incidentally, most worked DNA sequencing research, most were emerging infectious disease or tropcical disease experts, most were Ft. Detrick alumnae or at least associated with USAMRIID and many were bioweapons contractors or associated with HHMI research grants.
Posted 3/12/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Need I remind you all of this forum rule?

10. No posts of an overtly political or religious nature OR posts promoting advocacy of particular personal, medical, legal, religious, political, or non-profit causes.  The forums are intended for offering mutual personal support.  Debating controversial subjects should be taken elsewhere.  Limited religious references are allowed (ie. "my prayers are with you" or a brief quote as part of a larger post), but the forums should not be used to convert others.

This is controversial in nature and has no place on a support forum.  Please abide by these forum rules or the post will be locked. 

Posted 3/12/2008 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Boy, I'm glad this isn't a conspiracy theories website! Too much of this would give us a flare.

Like Quincy, I'm just glad there are meds to make me function better. Since I can't take some of the earlier meds, I'd be in a bad place without the newer ones.
Posted 3/12/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)

I agree with your Mods and 100% with Quincy................

I remember Jonas Salk as I was in the first group of children to receive the vaccine and thanks to him, I did not live in an iron lung.

Respectfully
Kitt

Posted 3/14/2008 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm confident in the research that goes on here in Canada and I do believe their goal is to find a cure and in the meantime, better meds that don't have such horrible side-effects...I guess if you're a pesimist then it would make sense to believe that a cure will never be found, luckily I'm optimistic....

http://www.touchgastroenterology.com/developments-pharmacological-treatment-inflammatory-a7835-1.html

 

 

:)

Posted 3/14/2008 4:06 AM (GMT 0)

xtremefit said...

Not so fast. Here is a list of dead scientists that were either murdered or died mysteriously. So you draw your own conclusions.

http://www.stevequayle.com/index1.html
http://home.comcast.net/~typezero/

That's some crazy stuff...I hadn't heard of that before. I've been meaning to read the link you posted in the other thread about flouride, too, when I get a chance.

Posted 3/14/2008 5:54 AM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
Well, I'm confident in the research that goes on here in Canada and I do believe their goal is to find a cure and in the meantime, better meds that don't have such horrible side-effects...I guess if you're a pesimist then it would make sense to believe that a cure will never be found, luckily I'm optimistic.... 

I agee that Canada is doing tons of research....especially for better efficient meds that don't have such horrific side-effects...some are scary.  I think, however, that funding is better solicited if the word "cure" is in the statement. 

Being (luckily) optimistic won't change the outcome of whether there's a cure found or not...it'll just make you feel better while waiting. 

respectfully, of course...:-)

quincy

Posted 3/14/2008 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Well Duh LOL, but the reason I'm optimistic is because of all that I read, especially from my CCFC journals...I'm not necessarily patient that's for sure, but I know that as each day passes they are getting closer to a cure based on all the info I've read so far...I'm confident there will be one in my life time, I just hope it's not right at the end of it LOL!

With more and more people becomming DX with IBD that puts IBD on track for a cure to be found, I highly doubt the pharmaceutical companies have a stronger pull than the governments around the world, I'm pretty sure that with more and more getting government disability due to IBD and the strain it puts on health care systmems as well, that a cure will be forced out, the preasure is on....that's how I look at it as far as the big picture goes...besides, I doubt a cure would be cheap and who's to say that a "cure" might not be an injection or such, that's needed every yr or couple of yrs.

:)
Posted 3/14/2008 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Cure?  What diseases have been cured in the past 50 years?  I never hear of cures, lots of new drugs yes, but cures?  All of these major illnesses out there, auto-immune, cancer, diabetes etc.  Maybe the genetic revolution will bring on new drugs that act as "cures."  The goal should be to cure, but it seems the goal of the medical establishment is to control symptoms.  There is no money in curing, only in keeping people just sick/well enough to continue taking more drugs.  You go to your GI, they tell you what drugs they want you to take, not advice on getting well.  If it doesn't make them money they don't talk about it.  The whole med establishment is just like every other industry...there in business to make money not to cure. 
Posted 3/14/2008 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Please let this go now. This is a support forum, not a debating society.

10. No posts of an overtly political or religious nature OR posts promoting advocacy of particular personal, medical, legal, religious, political, or non-profit causes.  The forums are intended for offering mutual personal support.  Debating controversial subjects should be taken elsewhere.  Limited religious references are allowed (ie. "my prayers are with you" or a brief quote as part of a larger post), but the forums should not be used to convert others.
 
This is controversial and doesn't belong here.  As requested before, please abide by these forum rules or the post will be locked.

Posted 3/15/2008 10:51 AM (GMT 0)
Seriously. We don't want to offend any of the sites rx sponsors. tongue
Posted 3/15/2008 11:49 AM (GMT 0)
UC Dude....Really let it go. I think there have been enough warnings. Peter will be notified next. At this point you are being disrespectful of the mods and the forum.
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