VIDEO - What About HCV and The Human Genome Project?

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VIDEO - What About HCV and The Human Genome Project?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Posted by New HCV Drugs

File Under Human Genome

The Human Genome Project.

Recently in the news was an article over at medscape about Ozzy Osbourne; Having His Genome Decoded to Find Out Why He's Still Alive. .

The company analysing Ozzies genomes will be doing the research for free otherwise for you and I the charge would be around $65,000. ,.

Our generation, which is the majority of this blogs readers know Mr. Ozbourne, and I find it ironic that he is taking part in the technology of genomic medicine. Even if Ozzie is doing this for publicity I'm waiting with extreme curiosity for the outcome.

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Here's A List Of Things Ozzie Has Survived:

1. Knocking back four bottles of cognac a day

2. Swallowing 42 types of prescription drugs during filming The Osbournes

3. Overdoses

4. Being hit by a plane (which crashed into his tour bus while he was sleeping)

5. A rare genetic condition causing a Parkinsonian-like tremor

6. Seizures

7. Rabies treatment after eating a bat

8. Cataracts

9. Smoking cigars like cigarettes

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10. A stay at a mental asylum.

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11. A broken neck from a quad accident

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12. Always getting stoned

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The man is a walking miracle !

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What Is genomic medicine ?

/ .We all know we inherit certain traits from our ancestors from the color or our eyes to the genetic preposition towards cancer or disease. "list of known of Genetic Diseases" Genetic Diseases, often known as heridatory diseases are caused due to abnormalities in genes. Physicians based on the genetic makeup of each individual can customize medicine to address medical and physical conditions at a more sophisticated level. . . Ge

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Example of genomic medicine:

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From The New York Journal Of Medicine

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"The confusion remains among health professionals and the public about the role of genetic information in medical practice. Inaccurate beliefs about genetics persist, including the view that in the past it had no effect on the practice of medicine and that its influence today is pervasive. In fact, for decades knowledge of genetics has had a large role in the health care of a few patients and a small role in the health care of many. We have recently entered a transition period in which specific genetic knowledge is becoming critical to the delivery of effective health care for everyone."/

Four-year-old has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and tolerates induction and consolidation chemotherapy well, with minimal side effects. As a key part of his maintenance-treatment protocol, he begins to receive oral mercaptopurine daily, but because a genetic test shows that is homozygous for a mutation in the gene that encodes thiopurine S-methyltransferase, an enzyme that inactivates mercaptopurine, he receives a greatly reduced dose. Only a few years ago, about 1 in 300 patients had serious, sometimes lethal, hematopoietic adverse effects during mercaptopurine therapy. Although is in this at-risk minority, a simple genetic test, which is now routine for patients beginning mercaptopurine therapy, alerts his physicians to this genetic predisposition. They reduce his dose of mercaptopurine and carefully monitor his blood levels, ensuring that the drug levels remain therapeutic, rather than

toxic. subsequently has an uneventful several-year maintenance period and achieves complete remission.

What about HCV and Genomic Medicine ?

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In a study Medscape determined that personalized medicine based on the genetic profile of patients may benefit individuals with genotype 1 and low success rate of achieving SVR.

l/Quoted from Medscape " Finally, these data should encourage all pharmaceutical companies to explore the possibility of extending their clinical trial design to include biomarkers that will allow for the development of a more individualized approach toward treating patients."

From Medscape: Viewpoints in Genomic Medicine

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Genetic Predictors of Treatment-Induced Viral Clearance in Hepatitis C

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Drs. Dermot McGovern and Gil Melmed comment on a study published in Nature on the ability of an IL-28B polymorphism to predict sustained viral response to hepatitis C treatment.Experts And Viewpoints, November 2009

First off what is the Human Genome Project ?

From the national institute of health :

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was one of the great feats of exploration in history - an inward voyage of discovery rather than an outward exploration of the planet or the cosmos; an international research effort to sequence and map all of the genes - together known as the genome - of members of our species, Homo sapiens. Completed in April 2003, the HGP gave us the ability to, for the first time, to read nature's complete genetic blueprint for building a human being.

The Human Genome Project Video - 3D Animation Introduction

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For an update on the project here are some informative videos

The Human Genome: A Decade of Discovery, Creating a Healthy FutureAgenda, Monday, June 7, 2010]

Videos and Presentation Slides l

lThis brings us to the FDA and ZALBIN

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July 22, 2010, 4:01 p.m. Human Genome Sciences Announces Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results and Key Developments

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Preliminary Feedback Received from FDA regarding the Company's Biologics License Application seeking approval to market 900-mcg ZALBIN dosed every two weeks for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Although the BLA review is ongoing, HGS has concluded that licensure of this dosing regimen is unlikely;.

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Human Genome Sciences Announces FDA Is Unlikely to Approve Albumin Interferon Once Every 2 Weeks

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SUMMARY: Human Genome Sciences announced last week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided preliminary feedback indicating that it probably will not grant the company's request for approval of albumin interferon alfa-2b (Zalbin in the U.S., Joulferon in Europe) administered once every 2 weeks. In April, the European Union regulatory agency also declined to approve this dosing regimen.

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Todays News Aug 3

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A dose of realityDespite being resurrected from the dead following positive results from its lupus drug, Benlysta, investors in Human Genome Sciences really need to think about whether their company is just a zombie. Its hepatitis C drug failed to impress anyone, including itself, meaning all it's really got going for itself right now is Benlysta.While all indications are that it will get the FDA go-ahead, Human Genome Sciences will eventually face competition from Immunomedics

(Nasdaq: IMMU) and others. That could be why 30% of the nearly 500 CAPS members rating the biotech think it will underperform going forward. You can inoculate yourself from that outcome by heading over to the Human Genome Sciences CAPS page and telling us your thoughts on its future.

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Personalized medicine is to Hepatitis C what botox is to wrinkles..

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,I jest, but from the current milestones being made with the new oral inhibitors we're getting closer to curing this disease. I am so geeked about the "Liver Meeting in November.",

On this blog yesterday we learned the liver meeting will be reporting the final results of "Telaprevir being used with interferon and ribavirin (ADVANCE trial), and the use of Boceprevir in non-responders or relapsers to first-line therapy for hepatitis C. " The future for treating this disease looks promising.

A Few Links You May Want To Check Out:k

Medscape is a great resource to find a varitiy of articles on the : "Latest in Genomics "

An peculiar video you may be interested in is : Genetic Markers for Living to 100 Years? Topol, MD, Genomic Medicine, 01:39PM Jul 13, 2010

For More Information See ; The Human Genome Project Information

Recent Video PBS Video/Human Genome Research Setbacks

http://Hepatitis Cnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-about-hcv-and-human-genome-project.html