Chapter 1: Vision Statement
Vision Statement
We are pursuing this to give hope and strength to individuals who are afflicted with several mutations of leukemia especially the form chronic myelogenous leukemia or CML. In order to do so we are embarking on a unique and never before attempted method of treating these dreaded forms of cancer. We are going to attempt to develop a new drug which not only will dramatically decrease the added pain of current cancer treatments but give patients a drastically improved survival rate.
We are using the breakthrough research containing information gathered on the particular Philadelphia chromosome which has a direct correlation with CML and quite possibly, can be targeted instead of other current forms of treatment which are limited to Bone Marrow transplant along with Radiation Therapy.
Chapter 2: Company Ownership & History
The Company
Company History
Novartis International AG
A company built on the teamwork of two incredible doctors who eventually at the eve of introducing a brand new compound years in the making which changed the view on a fatal form of cancer and astonished top scientists, PhDs, Oncologists and People everywhere across the world. Although this breakthrough was and always will be a huge footprint in medical science history more importantly it gave the future proof that cancer research is never at a stalemate but just preparing for the next big and possibly cure all to hit the world.
Company Ownership Structure
In 1996 two leading pharmaceutical companies with a rich history merged into one of the most innovative and respected pharmaceutical collaborations of all time, Novartis International AG.
Daniel Casella (Chairman), Joseph Jimenez (CEO).
Chapter 3: The Research Which Made It All Work
Treatment initiative decades in the making from the first discovery in the year of 1960 of the Philadelphia chromosomes having a direct correlation of almost ninety five percent of patients who were diagnosed with CML or Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. This was the fundamental and crucial building block to a thirty-eight years’ worth of work and research. In the following years medical and bright minds that could benefit to the cause of developing this treatment were a big help to both lead PhDs. The phrase is often heard throughout conversation that when society works together they can accomplish anything and truly this is a great example of such an endeavor. It was not until 1980 that Chicago Scientists determined what was not explored 1960. It was already established that the Philadelphia chromosome did have a direct correlation with the disease CML but never exactly what that connection was. The Scientists pinpointed the chromosome abnormality of the Philadelphia Chromosome and that was each of these chromosomes produce cancer-causing kinase enzymes. This discovery confirmed the earlier beliefs of “Molecular Targeting as being the Wave of the Future” and became the catalyst bed to drive the final eighteen years into overdrive. The next step was to test hundreds of molecules to see which molecule would only disrupt the sick enzymes instead of destroying the healthy cells which all Cancer treatments known at that time such as Radiation Chemo-Therapy are notorious for.
What was so astounding about this discovery was it was proof that one single chromosome could not only be a direct link to CML but actually the cause of the deadly CML. In the popular online database shows the reaction of what apparently was one of the defining moments when the lead Dr. humbly says "When the data started to come in, it was hard to believe," recalls Dr. Buchdunger. "But it was obvious looking at the white blood cell counts that some patients were experiencing absolute normalization of their blood counts” (Buchdunger, Ph.D. ).
After this discovery both doctors discovered in just two years the molecule that we know today as Gleevec. This process took four hundred molecules and in contrast to the whole timeline of Gleevec was a very fast turnaround. After another eight years of extended testing to ensure the safety and produce a request to the FDA the first human trials resulting in incredibly rewarding results that turned a diagnoses that would once be considered a fatal disease to a very manageable form of cancer. In 1998 the FDA put Gleevec on the fast track to FDA approval. By 2001 FDA approved the treatment option and both Drs. Buchdunger and Zimmerman completed what they set out to accomplish, changed modern Oncology forever and quite simply changed the world.
Chapter 4: Novartis Changes the World
In the year of 2001 Novartis announces the FDA approval of Gleevec and makes the front page of Time Magazine. The world finally is rewarded with years and years of cancer research funding and the end result is an extremely effective, gentle compound which is taken one a day out of the comfort of your home. Not only is the treatment the first of its kind, being a target therapy that directly targets and disrupts a key protein that causes cancer but is said to "……. benefited from the idea of targeting. We have learned useful lessons for the development of new drugs, not only for cancers but for other diseases" (Buchdunger, Ph.D. ). As of today Novartis is a Worldwide Company with drugs being approved in over one hundred countries and now has pharmaceutical research centers which are primarily Bio-Medical centers (NIBR). Reaching as far as the developing countries and using this NIBR centers for what is repeated confidently being “…committed to discovering innovative medicines to address unmet patient needs” "Novartis: Broad healthcare portfolio for changing patient need." www.novartis.com. Novartis Worldwide . Web. 6 Dec 2013.
Work Cited
Buchdunger, Ph.D, Elisabeth. "The Story Of Gleevec."Innovator Stories. n. page. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. <http://www.innovation.org/index.cfm/StoriesofInnovation/InnovatorStories/The_Story_of_Gleevec>.
© 2013 Novartis AG ,."Novartis: Broad healthcare portfolio for changing patient need." www.novartis.com. Novartis Worldwide . Web. 6 Dec 2013.
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© 2013 Novartis AG, . N.p.. Web. 7 Dec 2013. <http://www.novartis.com/about-novartis/company-history/index.shtml>.
© Novartis GR, . N.p.. Web. 7 Dec 2013. <http://www.novartis.com/innovation/research-development/targeted-therapies/index.shtml>.
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