Community Magazine December 2013

Hope for Diabetics Look for an external artificial pancreas to hit the U.S. market within five years. That will be a boon for diabetics who have trouble keeping blood sugar levels in check. The device monitors blood sugar and then administers and adjusts insulin automatically using a computerized insulin pump. One early version, which stops the flow of insulin when glucose levels are too low, is already available overseas and will begin U.S. trials this year. Among the companies involved in the development of the new technology are Medtronic, Dexcom, Insulet Corp. and Johnson & Johnson’s Animas Corp. Helping the Blind to See An artificial retina is being developed by Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. The technology, called Argus II, converts images from a tiny camera in a person’s glasses into small electrical pulses transmitted to electrodes that are implanted on the retina. Vision is limited, but testing has enabled sightless people to find doors, sidestep obstacles and sort laundry. Some users can even read large print. The device is already available in Europe, but is likely a year or two away from approval for use in the U.S. A new artificial cornea is also a couple of years away from the U.S. market. KeraMed Inc. is developing an implant that doesn’t rely on donor tissue, which suffices to treat only 1 percent of the 10 million cases of corneal blindness reported worldwide each year. The device, made of a proprietary material, is designed to replace the section of the cornea that focuses light, which is necessary to see. This version is flexible, so it will require a smaller incision than other implants. That will mean a shorter recovery period and fewer complications. Further down the road – five years or so – we will probably see a drug treatment from Lpath, Inc. for macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 65. The drug contains antibodies to neutralize molecules that contribute to abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina. The out-of-control vessels distort central vision. Taming the Tremors of Parkinson’s Preladenant, from Merck, is seen as an alternative to the existing therapy for the tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease, L-dopa. But Parkinson’s drugs often become less effective over time, so the development of new drugs is of vital importance for the millions of patients around the world suffering from the disorder. Enter Fipamezole, from Santhera Pharmaceuticals, which is seen as a promising treatment for the pronounced tremors associated with advanced cases of the disease, though is probably several years away from approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Making Progress Against Cancer While we all eagerly await a cure for cancer, new approaches are being developed to aggressively fight some forms of the disease and to limit debilitating side effects. Vaccines to treat pancreatic and ovarian cancers, melanoma, multiple myeloma and a form of lung cancer are in development but have not yet moved into the FDA approval pipeline. Other breakthroughs on the horizon: ridaforolimus, from Merck, to treat soft tissue and bone sarcomas; CPI-613, from Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, to treat pancreatic cancer; cabozantinib, from Exelixis, Inc., for prostate, ovarian and liver cancers; and Multikine, from CEL-SCI, for treating advanced head and neck cancers. Easing the Pains of Aging Up to 40 percent of adults who have rheumatoid arthritis don’t respond adequately to approved treatments. Help may be on the way in the form of tofacitinib, a drug in development by Pfizer that inhibits enzymes that contribute to inflammation. Meanwhile, Merck is a year away from seeking FDA approval for odanacatib, a once-a-week treatment for osteoporosis. One-quarter of those with bone density weakness cannot tolerate the most common drugs to treat it, so the alternative will be welcome news for the 10 million people in the U.S., mostly women, with the disease. Your Medical History on a Microchip Within 5 years, you’ll be able to carry all your medical records, including lab work and X-rays, on a flash drive. The device will be encrypted to prevent hacking, and the information can be downloaded by a doctor or specialist. TEVET 5774 DECEMBER 2013 61