Essay about Syndexa and Technology Transfer at Harvard

As an apathetic killer of 300,000 innocent individuals in America, obesity is one of the largest controversial diseases of discussion in America’s history. Although obesity itself isn’t the direct cause of these numerous deaths, it is the lead contributor in augmenting the chance of the incidence of heart disease and diabetes which equate to the leading causes of death in the United States. Solving the puzzle of obesity can save the lives of friends and family members everyone loves and cherishes. To solve the puzzle of obesity with my obsession with chemistry and genetics, I would examine the relationship between genes, enzymatic activity, and structural composition of fat. The undergraduate research opportunities that the Honors Program at UGA provides are indispensable for my growth as a student taking the path of medicine and research. Some of the very traits I exhibit include but are not limited to being intrinsically motivated and passionate about uncovering unknowns. Through the Honors Program, I can obtain the opportunities to pursue and

They have also attacked patent listings in the Food and Drug Administration “Orange Book” and have alleged monopolization through fraud on the Patent and Trademark Office and sham litigation. Yet other cases have condemned distribution agreements as unlawful exclusive dealing. These government actions have led to substantial private class action litigation against the pharmaceutical industry. The FTC has also challenged numerous mergers and acquisitions in the industry over the last decade. One common feature in all of these cases is the need to define a relevant market. In nonmerger cases, the FTC and private plaintiffsgenerally allege narrow markets, limited to a single drug and its generic equivalent in some cases and to generic drugs excluding the bioequivalent “brand-name” drug in other cases. In its merger challenges, on the other hand, the FTC has alleged markets ranging from those based upon a particular chemical compound, to broader markets based upon various drugs’ manner of interaction or dosage form, to still broader markets of all drugs used to treat a disease or condition. In numerous pharmaceutical merger challenges, the government has included in the market not only currently marketed drugs but also other drugs under development, alleging “innovation markets.”

Improvements in health care and life sciences are an important source of gains in health and longevity globally. The development of innovative pharmaceutical products plays a critical role in ensuring these continued gains. To encourage the continued development of new drugs, economic incentives are essential. These incentives are principally provided through direct and indirect government funding, intellectual property laws, and other policies that favor innovation. Without such incentives, private corporations, which bring to market the vast majority of new drugs, would be less able to assume the risks and costs necessary to continue their research and development (R&D). In the United States, government action has focused on creating the environment that would best encourage further innovation and yield a constant flow of new and innovative medicines to the market. The goal has been to ensure that consumers would benefit both from technological breakthroughs and the competition that further innovation generates. The United States also relies on a strong generic pharmaceutical industry to create added competitive pressure to lower drug prices. Recent action by the Administration and Congress has accelerated the flow of generic medicines to the market for precisely that reason. By contrast, in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and

The agreement states Pharmagen will receive up to $500 million funding for R&D costs as they are incurred solely for the research efforts of a potential new drug “X”

Although scientists have identified genes as being one of the factors contributing to obesity, knowing what specific genes involved would be helpful. The Friedman group decided to try and find those specific genes with a series of breeding experiments of mice. The genes were mapped out and the group found a 650-kilobase segment on mouse chromosome 6 to be responsible and named it the ob gene (for obese)(Marx). This means scientists have found a gene responsible for the obese mice which became an important step in finding treatment options for what is now looking like a complicated issue. The next question to answer was whether this gene was being produced in adipose (fat) tissue. This would help determine if the gene was responsible for creating the unneeded fat. The search paid off as one gene was found being

On a molecular level, fat tissue is normally the largest organ in humans and is involved in mechanisms and pathways that deal with longevity. Fat tissue is not only involved in energy storage but is also important in immune and endocrine function, thermoregulation, mechanical protection, and tissue regeneration (Tchkonia et al., 2010). Adipose tissue is able to protect against infection and trauma. It is also able to produce and activate hormones, including IL-6, IGF-1, and glucocorticoids, as well as prevent heat loss (Tchkonia et al., 2010). Throughout life, changes in fat distribution and function is constantly occurring and in older individuals, these changes correspond to a number of health disorders like hypertension, cancers, cognitive dysfunction, and diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes, as previously noted (Tchkonia et al., 2010). As people age, their body composition increases in fat mass and decreases in muscle mass, regardless of their body weight or BMI (Dorner and Rieder, 2011).

Obesity is a chronic disease that can lead to other serious illness. Maxfield briefly touches that obesity can be a factor when it comes to “heart disease, diabetes, and cancer” (Maxfield). Gaines provides a deeper understanding of how dangerous obesity can be. In 2013,

Obesity increases the risk of several debilitating, and deadly diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. The condition most strongly influenced by body weight is type 2 diabetes Fat cells, especially those stored around the waist, secrete hormones and other substances that fire inflammation. Although inflammation is an essential component of the immune system and part of the healing process, inappropriate inflammation causes a variety of health problems. Inflammation can make the body less responsive to insulin and change the way the body metabolizes fats and carbohydrates, leading to higher blood sugar levels and, eventually, to diabetes and its many complications. Another Obesity and Coronary Artery Disease. Numerous studies have demonstrated a direct association between excess body weight and coronary artery disease (CAD). The BMI-CAD Collaboration Investigators conducted a meta-analysis of 21 long-term studies that followed more than 300,000 participants for an average of 16 years. Study participants who were overweight had a 32 percent higher risk of developing CAD, compared with participants who were at a normal weight; those who were obese had an 81 percent higher risk. (9) Although adjustment for blood pressure and cholesterol levels slightly lowered the risk estimates, they remained highly significant for obesity. The investigators

Founded by two mutual acquaintances and former staff members of California Biotechnology Inc. (CalBio), Lorin Johnson and Randy Hamilton set out to build a company specializing in a specific area of need, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Their search throughout the international landscape was focused on the chemical compounds that would be the foundation for therapeutic drugs that serve as a benefit to the management gastric disorders. As these compounds were discovered by way of research, with the intent to align and contract with already licensed agreements if the price allows for the newly formed company to take part. One such compound that fit the need for the company was found

“ 1. Adipokines are hormones produced by adipose tissue. /…/ Adipokines have effects not only on tissues but [also] on the hypothalamic and pancreatic function. /…/ 2. Elevated serum free fatty acids and high intracellular deposits of triglycerides and cholesterol. These lead to metabolic overload with interfere of insulin signaling and a decrease in tissue response to insulin. 3. Obesity causes release of inflammatory cytokines. /…/ These play an important role in the genesis of a fatty liver [which impairs the function]. 4.

Obesity is defined as the excessive build-up of body fat that has major detrimental effects on an individual’s health (Caballero, 2007). The major cause of this excess accumulation of body fat is due to a positive energy balance i.e. when the input of energy into the body system exceeds the output of energy which in turn facilitates in weight gain (Caballero, 2007). Obesity is a major health issue in modern day society, firstly because it affects approximately 300 million people worldwide (Weight Management Centre and secondly, drastic alteration in the body’s fat intake also leads to the increasing prevalence of other major health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, non-insulin dependent diabetes and hypertension (WMC, 2010).

While this case is literally full of negative aspects, we will only focus on the main points for both arguments. Pharmaceutical companies want to be sure that the products they spend years and millions of dollars to create are not easily reproduced and sold at discount prices. The profits pharmaceuticals make of their patented products are supposed to refinance new research. So taking away their exclusive distribution rights and allowing other manufacturers to just copy the product and sell it at

The strategic implications for Vertex attempting to fund and develop four drugs are as following:

Lilly BioVentures utlizied Eli Lilly and Companies network for its deal flow. Once a potitail start-ups was picked Lilly BioVentures would assess the risks and check the star-ups background. It also became a resource for its portfolio start-ups, which was a plus for start-ups entering in to a deal with Lilly BioVentures. The goal of Lilly BioVentures was to operate like a venture capital firm as much as possible. Schalliol emphasized: “Our goal was to make money, to beat the corporate hurdle rate. We described ourselves as financial investors in areas of strategic interest.” Many of the deal that Lilly BioVentures entered in to was though a syndicate, which brought more funds form other venture capital firms as well as different expertise for the start-up. Through these types of deals Eli Lilly and Company was able to gain competitive advantage over its rivals.

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one factor that can erupt from obesity due to the main causes that it brings, like high blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol to a high count while lowering HDL. LDL is the “bad cholesterol”, and HDL is the “good cholesterol”. We need fats in our body for energy or ATP, in our body. If we get more LDL, it can really be a dangerous case, and