It's a sick, sad world
Researchers at the University of Alberta Department of Medicine have shown that an existing small, relatively non-toxic molecule, dichloroacetate (DCA), causes regression in several different cancers. In findings that 'astounded' the researchers, the molecule known as DCA was shown to shrink lung, breast and brain tumors in both animal and human tissue experiments. You'd think that would be a good thing, and drug companies would be falling all over themselves to rush it into manufacture... but no. It seems there is a snag that makes this miracle cancer cure rather unattractive; because it is a commonly existing molecule and not some overenginnered wonder-molecule that never existed outside the labs, the drug companies wouldn't be able to patent it. No patent, no exclusive. No exclusive, no scalper pricing. No gouging the pocketbooks of cancer victims, no fun.A sad parallel already exists in the form of morphine; it is extremely easy to make to a high degree of purity in even modest manufacturing capabilities, it is extremely cheap to make, the ingredients are extremely cheap to produce, and it is one of the cheapest drugs available in America. Morphine has been proven to have FAR FAR FAR FAAAAAAAAR fewer side effects than almost any modern synthetic painkiller, and has virtually no potential for damage to the human body. But, because a few white jazz players and black blues men of the 20's got addicted it got this absolutely ridiculous rap for being an evil and addictive drug with no redeeming characteristics in the enlightened modern age. The reason has more to do with the fact that BigPharm can't make much profit off it than the desire of modern pharmaceutical companies wanting to rid the world of this evil vice.
So, it sounds like this cancer treatment will be substantially delayed while Bayer or Glaxo or McNeil go looking for a sliiiiiiiiiiightly different molecule that works just like their competitor's custom drug, but with a unique structure they can patent, sell for an absurd amount and buy another yacht. Don't worry, it will come out eventually... after a few beloved friends and family members of drug company board members start dying of a cancer that could have been treated.
(C) 2007 Don Stratton
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