Trial and error

In the past eight years, 2,868 deaths have occurred during clinical drug trials across India. But only 89 have been attributed to such trials and compensation has been paid in 45 cases, said the Union health minister on March 5 in Parliament.

Novel Therapy

You suggest beta lactams, used in antibiotics, are effective anticancer drugs. How did this idea come to you? Interviewee:  Bimal K Banik

Dark secret is out

Cancer research goes 3D

CANCER is baffling. While certain types spread slowly over the years, others grow within weeks and months, leaving hardly any scope for survival. Understanding how cancer cells spread within the body is, therefore, important for developing new and improved drugs for the dreaded disease.

Deadly deficiency

MALARIA claims over a million lives each year. Primaquine is the key drug for the eradication of the devastating disease. However, the drug can cause severe complications in patients lacking glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme. A study published in PLOS Medicine on November 13 has found that over 450 million people across the globe are deficient in this enzyme.

That which is injurious to health

Ben Goldacre is a regular troublemaker for establishments practising dodgy science. In one of his columns in The Guardian he wrote, “Unpicking bad science is the best way to explain good science.” Goldacre is a medical doctor and a science researcher. His weekly column Bad Science takes up cudgels against dubious research, exposes fishy practices in pharma majors and takes us to the seamy areas of science policy.

When supervisors cheat

The book under review is about a sordid chapter in the history of medical invention. In the 1940s, US president Roosevelt launched an initiative to develop antibiotics to treat animals and humans, and to deal with the potential threat of biological warfare. Among the graduate students in the department was Albert Schatz, who was analysing soil samples to find an antibiotic that would cure tuberculosis.

Illogical formula

THE hue and cry in recent months over failure to protect the interests of drug trial victims has finally forced the government to act. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under the Union health ministry has drafted a formula to compensate drug trial-related injuries and deaths.

Science and Technology - Briefs

Health sciences Shrink the tumour Basal cell nevus syndrome is a genetic condition that can cause dozens, even thousands, of skin cancers known as basal-cell carcinomas all over the body. The current treatment is frequent surgery, which can result in scarring. Scientists have now found that a recently approved drug, Erivedge (vismodegib), can keep the cancer at bay.

Stem cell dilemma

NIKUNJ Dewan is 23 years old. Unlike others his age he does not attend college; he neither parties with his friends nor goes to the cinema every weekend. Reason: He injured his spinal cord in a paragliding accident two years ago. It left his lower body paralysed. But as he is wheeled into a clinic that provides human embryonic stem cell therapy, the Delhi’ite is optimistic he will be running soon. He has been injected with stem cells four times.“After every session, I’ve felt significant improvements in my condition,” he says.