How Many Drugs Does It Take?

It’s a pretty cool world we are living in where treatments for one illness can be used to help with other conditions.

Although I’m young, I still worry about arthritis. Having broken my wrist in high school, I know the joints of the bones aren’t as tough as they should be, and therefore can be easier to weaken.

Help appears to be on the way for one of the worst forms of arthritis: rheumatoid. The bodies immune system attacks the joints, which causes inflammation and pain. It is one of the most disabilitating forms of arthritis.

However, the Food and Drug Administration has initially approved the drug Rituxan, which is a best-selling cancer drug for non-Hodgekin’s lymphoma. Rituxan is also being tested as a possible treatment for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

I am very interested in the idea that one drug can be a blanket treatment for several illnesses. I suppose that since many bacterial and viral sicknesses share symptoms, it makes sense to share medicines. However, it makes me wonder why a doctor or a scientist can not help find a cure for seemingly irreversible problems many die from, or live with.

Hopefully someday.

1 comment March 2, 2006