Should drug companies be under a legal corporate hypocratic oath -little quiet scream

[Christine MH-UK]

Hi RB,

Yes, it is unfortunate that more money isn't put into the non-profitable research. However, did you know that there was a small trial done that showed that fish oil decreased weight loss in terminally ill patients?

Anyway, the drugs companies may use this type of information in ways they find profitable. There is actually a drug in development called DHA-paclitaxel or taxoprexin that attaches DHA to taxol. Cancers disproportionately suck in fatty acids, so the DHA gets more of the drug into cancer cells. Once the cancer cell takes in the DHA, it breaks off from the taxol, activating the drug and simultaneously, in theory, chemosensitizing the cancer cell. I think that it is being tried out in metastatic melanoma first:
http://www.scienceblog.com/community...200002582.html for the phase I trial results. The interesting thing is there were fewer side effects.

"The researchers reported that, at the highest dose of Taxoprexin® DHA-paclitaxel, they were able to administer 4.6 times more taxane than the maximum approved clinical dose of Taxol®. Some patients experienced a temporary reduction in their white blood cells. However, the reductions were transient and cell numbers returned to normal without treatment. None of the patients experienced hair loss or nerve problems, which are toxic side effects frequently associated with Taxol® and Taxotere®. In addition, no nausea or vomiting toxicities were seen."

So, this information does get used, but perhaps not in the less profitable ways.

[R.B.]

Re Omega threes fish oil in liquid intravenous feeds - Yes I have seen a few mentions in various trials suggesting benifit of upping threes in intravenous feed to various conditions.

Re using fat hunger of tumours as targeting sensor - No I dont think I have seen for Taxol but they appear to be trying for a number of agents.

But the key question is are they not simply looking for solutions to a problem that in large part could be simply resolved by resolving the optimal fat intake proportions - and if that is the case how do they in the board room justify the suffering it is putting women and children through.


Thanks for the response

RB

[Lolly]

I think the truth is most of the board room decisions are made in the cold light of financial gain, no human toll considered. I believe the scientists and doctors are for the most part working for the common good, but the corporate good is an entirely different kettle of fish.

<3 Lolly