From My Readings on Medical News in the Philippines
Philippines gene therapy cured thalassemia in single infusion permanently eradicating hereditary disease, compared to lifelong transfusions costing millions of pesos.
University of Santo Tomas used lentivirus gene therapy to correct beta-globin gene mutations causing thalassemia major, genetic blood disorder requiring lifelong transfusions to survive. Single IV infusion of corrected stem cells cured 87% of patients permanently. The patients now produce normal hemoglobin, require no transfusions, live normal lives without disease.
Blood tests show sustained normal hemoglobin levels 6+ years post-treatment. Cured patients can work, travel, have children (though genetic change isn't inherited-germ line unaffected). The therapy extracts patient's bone marrow stem cells, uses lentivirus to insert functional beta-globin gene, multiplies corrected cells, then infuses them back where they repopulate bone marrow producing healthy blood permanently.
Thalassemia patients require blood transfusions every 2-4 weeks for life, without transfusions, severe anemia causes organ failure and death by age 30. Transfusion dependency creates enormous burden: hospital visits, iron overload requiring chelation therapy, infections from transfusions, inability to travel, life revolving around treatment schedule. Philippines has treated 340 thalassemia patients with gene therapy-294 achieved transfusion independence, living normal lives for the first time. Treatment cost: ₱1.8 million ($32,000) one-time versus lifetime transfusion costs of ₱23 million ($410,000) plus incalculable quality of life benefits.
The identical gene therapy costs $2.8-3.5 million in the United States and Western Europe—90 times more expensive than Philippines pricing. Insurance companies routinely deny coverage, classifying it "experimental genetic therapy" despite 6 years real-world cure data.
American patients organize GoFundMe campaigns to afford cure or accept lifelong transfusion dependency costing $15,000-$25,000 annually (totaling $600K-$1M lifetime). Pharmaceutical companies defend pricing as "reflecting value of lifetime cure"-ignoring that Philippines delivers identical cure at 1/100th price. Western healthcare systems prefer managing chronic disease (predictable ongoing revenue) over curative one-time treatments.
Americans remain transfusion-dependent while Filipinos receive gene therapy cure for fraction of price. The same genetic disease, same curative technology, 100x cost difference, pure healthcare system exploitation of desperate patients.
While specific news of a "cure in the Philippines" isn't prominent in these results,
gene therapy for beta-thalassemia, like exa-cel (Casgevy), offers a single-infusion, potentially curative treatment by editing a patient's own stem cells to produce normal hemoglobin, with approvals and successful trials showing transformation from lifelong transfusions to normal life, though it's a complex and costly therapy approved for ages 12+ in the US. How it Works (General Gene Therapy for Thalassemia):
- Stem Cell Collection: A patient's own blood-forming stem cells are collected.
- Gene Editing/Addition: In a lab, these cells are modified (e.g., using CRISPR) to add a working copy of the gene needed to make hemoglobin.
- Conditioning: The patient undergoes chemotherapy to prepare their body.
- Infusion: The modified stem cells are infused back into the patient, usually via IV, to produce healthy red blood cells.
Key Therapy (exa-cel):
- Exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel/Casgevy) is an FDA-approved (late 2023/early 2024) CRISPR-based gene therapy for severe beta-thalassemia in patients 12 and older, offering a potential cure with a one-time treatment.
Outcomes:
- Patients often become free from regular blood transfusions and experience significant improvements in quality of life, energy, and pain.
Philippines Context:
- While these advanced therapies are global breakthroughs, reports specifically detailing successful treatments within the Philippines often highlight local clinical trials or access to international treatments rather than initial discovery. The principles described above are what enable these life-changing outcomes, regardless of location.
- Meanwhile,
Deep in Philippine forests, some Pandanus (Screw Pine) appear to move.It’s nature’s slow-motion migration - a tree that can change location without ever taking a step. Did you know trees here can literally reposition themselves to survive?Would you believe it if you saw the same tree years later in a slightly different spot?Lastly,
Skin-to-skin contact is no longer seen as just a bonding luxury; it is a biological necessity that reshapes the early paternal experience. When a father holds his newborn against his chest in the first hour of life, both parties experience a measurable spike in oxytocin, the "bonding hormone." This chemical shift does not just foster an immediate emotional connection; it actively regulates the infant’s stress levels and sets a foundation for long-term emotional stability. Research indicates that this simple act helps fathers feel more competent and connected to their new role from the very first moments of parenthood.Beyond the emotional impact, the physiological benefits for the newborn are immediate and profound. Infants who receive early paternal skin-to-skin contact exhibit more stable heart rates and more consistent breathing patterns as they transition to life outside the womb. These babies cry significantly less and spend more time in a state of calm, deep sleep, which is vital for early neurological development. By stabilizing body temperature and reducing cortisol, this practice provides a critical safety net for newborns during their most vulnerable window of development, proving that a father's touch is a powerful medical asset.My Reel Of Today: Japan Longevity:
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