The Future of Medicine Is Now

[Martyshk 137]

Some good news from the Pharma industry.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323530404578205692226506324.html

[Martyshk 137]

Specifically this:

Letting Your Body Fight Cancer

Few advances in cancer care are generating moreenthusiasm than harnessing the power of the immune system to fight the disease.

Tom Stutz is one reason why. Last April, the72-year-old retired lawyer was confined to a wheelchair, struggling for everybreath, and required help with simple tasks such as eating, all because of apreviously diagnosed skin cancer that had spread to his lungs and liver."I was ready to check out, to be honest," he says.

That month, he began taking an experimental drug known as MK3475. Six weeks later, he started feeling better. Today, Mr. Stutzhas jettisoned the wheelchair and regularly walks a 3.5-mile loop near his home in Los Angeles. "I feel terrific," says Mr. Stutz, who learned after a checkup in the fall that his tumors had shrunk by about 65% so far.

For decades, cancer researchers have wondered why the immune system typically doesn't treat tumor cells as invaders and target them. Part of the mystery was recently solved: Tumors protect themselves by hijacking the body's natural brake for the immune system.

MK3475, being developed by Merck & Co., isamong a new category of drugs that release the brake, unleashing an army ofimmune cells to hunt down the cancer. A recent report from a trial in which Mr.Stutz participated said that of 85 patients who took the drug, 51% saw theirtumors significantly shrink; in eight cases, the tumors couldn't be detected onimaging tests.

Edited January 15, 2013 by Martyshk

[Ontarkie 14,280]

Nice advancement

[Martyshk 137]

Nice advancement

Having first hand experience with this I have to say - it's really moving forward fast.