Why aren't pharmaceutical co's fighting for stem cell research?

[spanone]

This industry that has been coddled by bushco does not fight for stem cell research. In the future, this research will be worth trillions of dollars but as far as I know they are being totally compliant. It makes no sense whatsoever. Meanwhile 'science' in the US is being replaced by religion.

[Spinzonner]

1. Probably because its not a repeat business

like pushing pills is. It's more of a medical procedure.

Also, I think its probably not mature enough for them to be interested. No revenue stream, etc. Once someone comes up with something promising they'll swoop in with bundles of their profits and either buy them up or take over the business.

There wmay be patentability issues too that scare them away until they are resolved in the courts.

[blondeatlast]

4. Regarding the repeat business issue; I suspect this is the heart of it.

I would direct your attention to an organization that receives buckets of pharmaceutical money--the American Diabetes Association. (I've been insulin dependent for nearly 40 years, so I'm pretty familiar with their workings).

Of course they support it--but it's all talk, no show. I have suspected for a long time now that it is because it poses a threat to sponsorship money from big pharma.

In fact, to strengthen the point about repeat business--many longtime insulin dependents have been successfully removed from insulin through two different procedures that demand much further funding and study--islet cell transplants and pancreas transplants. Both have PROVEN successful (our precinct chair had a pancreas transl=plant 5 years ago and is thriving, even after severe complications from diabetes) and are within our grasp now.

I know longer donate to ADA, my money goes to the more activist Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and Insulin Free World. IFW is on the frontlines, virtually alone, in pushing for more funding and study of islet cell and pancreas transplants.

I really think that big pharma is holding back on supporting any promising treatments due to the "repeat business" factor.

[Jose Diablo]

8. Yep, why cure a problem

when a ongoing revenue stream from drugs can be generated.

[Egalitariat]

2. I think the Pharmco's can pursue stem cell research with all their might

And I'm sure that they are. It's just that the federal dollars for that research is limited.

[blondeatlast]

5. I've been an activist for stem cell research for many years. Big pharma is

NOT supporting SC research, nor any other promising research. Read through my response to spinzonner above, and through the rest of these posts.

If they saw any profit in it, they could be doing FAR more to make it happen.

Instead, the reasearch they do, and the money they spend, is on how to make the "little purple pill" a once a day medication, which pushes the price up and creates more profit.

They onlyy research how to make profitable meds more profitable.

[converted_democrat]

3. I think........

Alot of it has to do with the fact that stem cell research would replace the need for long term medication. The medication they make there money off of.

[Toots]

6. They are and there are in fact two bills in front of Congress right now

Both of those bills want to go beyond Bush*'s restrictions on Stem Cell research. both bills havbe overwhelming support but are conflicting. One is just for cord blood stem cells only and the other is for embryonic stem cells which has much less support from Republicans but much more from Democrats.

[murray hill farm]

7. It does still go on...

The research is done by small genome research companies...and then is often partnered up with the larger companies for the trials that will lead to FDA approval..these are lengthy and expensive..and this usually includes payment in segments or percentage of profits...check into some of the smaller pharms..such as Ariad Pharm or Oscient pharm..many small companies are moving on with the research..and really making amazing discoveries..expecially in the treatment of cancers using genetics...and a lot ..actually most of the trials are done outside of the USA.

[donsu]

9. cause their reason for being is to make money - keep everybody sick

a cure for diabetes would bankrupt them.

[Auntie Bush]

10. Can you imagine how much money they'd lose if they found a cure

for the common cold? Reminds me of when they wouldn't make no-run stocking because woman wouldn't have to buy so many...kind of putting themselves out of business.

[NYCGirl]

11. Hell, how much money would they lose with a cure for diabetes?

There's evidence that stem cell research may be able to do that.

[KittyWampus]

12. Cause Pharmaceuticals Are Only Marginally Interested In Science &

research.

If they can find a way to repackage the same pills and market them with million dollar PR campaigns, why bother investing in actual progressive research?

Suppose stem cell research made their current crop of pills obsolete.