Emerging technologies in pharmacy
The developments that led to the invention of vaccinations and other drugs like antibiotics resulted in improved health and there were reduced loss of lives (Chapman et al 1999, p.1). Emerging technologies indicate that some medical conditions, disorders and diseases can be treated by manipulating the human gene. Although most of the new technology is under research and there is a possibility that they could lead to a cure for incurable diseases with fewer side effects, there are moral concerns due to the processes involved. This essay will discuss Pharmacogenomics, Gene Therapy to treat Disease and Gene Therapy for Cancer Treatment. It will also discuss Stem cells Possibilities of Stem Cell therapy and Overview of cloning ethical issues.
Pharmacogenomics
The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (2011) defines Pharmacogenomics as “the study of how drugs are metabolized in the body and the variations in the genes that produce the metabolizing enzymes” (p. 1). Genes generate enzymes that are essential for the metabolism of the drug. The metabolism of the drugs is diverse in different individuals and thus doctors will prescribe drugs depending on the rate of metabolism.
People are diverse in metabolism of drugs depending on their weight, age and whether they are taking other drugs. The doctor may adjust the amount or decrease the amount depending on the metabolism. Some drugs are metabolized very fast and fail to perform their function or they are metabolized slowly hence overstay and may cause other problems. Other enzymes may actually make the drug more active or is deactivated by the enzyme.
The patient’s age is considered when prescribing dosage because metabolism varies in different people in different ages. Besides age, doctors use sex and weight to prescribe drugs, this can be replaced by pharmacogenomics where informed decisions can be made. Another importance of the technology is that correct drugs will be administered. This is because some patients fail to respond to some drugs and end up being given another drug. The dosage is also accurate and reduces adverse effects.
The process of testing takes a few hours. The patient is given a sample of drugs. The enzymes that are tested include “The Cytochrome P450 family, N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase” (The American Association for Clinical Chemistry 2011, p. 2).
Challenge lies in the interpretation of results. Patients have many genes which makes the process difficult. Some of the tests available are the gene variants for: UGT1A1, CYP2C9, 29 CYP2D6 and VKORC1 (The American Association for Clinical Chemistry 2011, p. 3).
Gene Therapy to treat Disease
Emerging technology on gene therapy demonstrates that gene therapy can be used to correct genetic disorders, diseases and even cancer as pointed out by the Human Genome Project Information (2009 p.1). Genes are passed on from one generation to another and the new generation can have undesirable disorders and diseases. Gene therapy is a procedure that involves correcting genes that carry disease to reduce the chance of developing the disease.
Gene therapy is done by introducing a gene to perform the task of another gene that is dysfunctional. In other cases a gene can be exchanged with another, or repaired using mutation. Also, abnormal genes can be adjusted to perform the desired function. The gene is introduced using a vector which is a virus that has been adjusted to convey the gene therapy to the body. Other methods for introducing gene therapy are: direct delivery and addition of a 47th chromosome.
Human Genome Project Information (2009, p. 1) notes that experimental of cases of gene therapy have failed. This is attributed to the fact that gene therapy has a short life. As a result, patients need several gene therapy administrations. Another challenge is the defense mechanism of the immune system. The body immune may hinder the effectiveness of the introduced genes as well as reduce effectiveness in consecutive therapies that follow. Using viral vector pose another danger of causing non existence disease. Mutation of gene may cause the patient to be vulnerable to multigene disorders.
However, the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (2011, p. 1) reveals that gene therapy has been successful in treating diseases. Among the genetic disorders treated include “Hemophilia”, “bubble boy disease” and “Chronic Granulomatus Disorder”. Other diseases include Neurodegenerative Diseases, hepatitis, influenza and cancer.
Gene Therapy for Cancer Treatment
To treat cancer the immunity cells are strengthened to prevent and to battle with the cancer cells. Gene therapy is introduced in the body to promote formation of strong cells to support the immunity of the patient and fight cancer cells. Another way used in treatment is the destruction of cancer cells. In some cases, the growth cancer is prevented using the therapy.
Before administering radiotherapy and chemotherapy, gene therapy is placed in the cancer cells to make the treatment more effective. The cells are made to become more sensitive to the process and other cancer treatments. In treatment of cancer, the gene therapy is used to prevent formation of vessels of blood, hence making the growth of cancer impossible American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (2011).
Stem cells
In their research Chapman Frankel and Garfinkel (1999, p.1) state that stem cells are cells that are capable or reproducing other cell tissues. The National Institute of Health (2009, p. 1) indicate that during the early stages in life stem cells multiply in large numbers. The stem cells replace other cells in the body to perform the function of repair. Stem cells are unique cells as they take different forms which include tissue, body organs and can become special forms.
There are different types of stem cell. They include: Totipotent, Pluripotent and Multipotent stem cells. Totipotent is a type that can lead to creation of a new organism. Pluripotent are stem cells capable of generating body tissue. Multipotent are cells that are much more limited to form specific tissue.
Stem cells are important as indicated by National Institute of Health (2009 p.1). After conception, stem cells enable the formation of all body organs that are essential for the human being. They also replace lost cells in the human body. Stem cell can be used to treat diseases given its ability to multiply into different forms.
There are two types of stem cells namely; embryonic stem cells and somatic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are obtained from a human embryo while somatic stem cells are taken from mature adults. The stem cells are believed to have a capacity to stay for long generating other cells including specialized cells and body organs (National Institute of Health 2009 p. 2).
Possibilities of Stem Cell therapy
Because of the characteristics of the human stem cells, they can be used in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Stem cells have been used to treat blood cancer patients, leukemia, lymphoma, diabetes among others. In order to conduct the therapy the stem cells can be obtained from blood or the bone marrow (Chapman et al 1999, p. xiii).
Stem cell studies might lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of genetic diseases and other diseases. The embryonic cells can be used to study human development in the formation of different tissues, organs and specialized cells. Such studies will lead to the treatment of birth defects and cancer. When researchers come up with an explanation of the stem cell process of differentiation and also cell division it may be possible to prevent such diseases (National Institute of Health 2009).
Stem cells can be used to examination the effectiveness of drugs on different cells before being introduced to patients. The challenge is to ensure that the conditions are the same while testing for different lines.
The National Institute of Health (2009) mentions that the success in establishing the generation of vital body organs that need to be replaced in the human body will be a breakthrough. There are many patients who need body organs such as liver, kidneys among others. People donate these organs and most often there challenges that include finding and matching with the donor (p. 7).
Overview of cloning its ethical issues
There are moral concerns that arise from the method of obtaining embryonic stem cells. Chapman et al (1999, p.11) reveal that the cells are collected from a fetus five weeks from conception and before eight weeks. Besides loss of fetus life concern is if the act is considered illegal. The other concern is if the helpless fetus can be allowed to grow into a child and a healthy adult in future.
There are who are concerned with the ability of the embryonic cells as being equivalent to the somatic cells. There are unease in the reception of the idea that stem cells from human beings ca develop into a person. This raises alarm that man would take over the task of creating human beings. Concerns are if the created human being or the clone would be natural and if they will be the same as the human beings. Furthermore, developments of the moral issue is those who raise concerns feel that the human cell must be secured Chapman et al (1999, p.12).
Conclusion
Emerging technologies in pharmacy are concerned with the study of genes and their manipulation to cure diseases. Pharmacogenomics assist in determining the right dosage and the right drug for a patient. Gene therapy to treat disease may be more effective to cure diseases in a shorter time and with fewer side effects. Using therapy can stop the development or destroy the cells that cause illness. Manipulation of the gene can be adjusting it, introducing a completely gene or mutation.
Stem cells also can be used to form a cure for the diseases. The study of cell division will make it possible to cure some conditions that need replacement of body organs and tissue. Genetic disorders can be corrected and other diseases which are genetic in nature be treated. Stem cells could lead to cloning have encountered concerns on the moral issue. They include the process of obtaining the stem cells and the possibility of making a clone; if they will be natural.
Reference list
American Association for Clinical Chemistry. (2011). Pharmacogenomics: Predicting Which Drugs Will Work and Which Won’t. Web.
American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy. (2011). Gene Therapy for Diseases. Web.
Chapman, A. R., Frankel, M. S. and Garfinkel, M.S. (1999). Stem Cell Research and Applications: Monitoring the Frontiers of Biomedical Research. Web.
Human Genome Project Information. (2009). Gene therapy. Web.
National Institute of Health. (2009). Stem cells Basic: Stem Cell Basics. Web.
National Cancer institute. (2010). Gene Therapy for Cancer: Questions and Answers. Web.