Russian fundamental science is trying to help medicine
Drugs for cancer, autoimmune, cardiological, neurological, infectious diseases, non-invasive diagnostic methods, test systems, vaccines, new materials for surgery and much more are the result of the work of Russian scientists under the program of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Fundamental Sciences – Medicine".
The program is attended by researchers from scientific centers in Siberia, the Far East, the Urals, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Its total budget is about 75 million rubles, while the financing of a single scientific project varies in the range of 170-260 thousand rubles. This was announced by Academician Mikhail Ugryumov at the conference "Fundamental Sciences – Medicine" that opened on December 3 in Moscow. The number of projects in 2007 increased 3.7 times compared to 2002, and financing – 2.5 times, that is, the cost of each project has fallen over the past five years.
It is quite difficult to imagine what can be done for such a small amount of money. For example, the cost of 1 g of reagent used in biochemical research can reach $ 1,000. So even if we assume that the laboratories participating in the program are fully equipped with the necessary devices, reagents and consumables require huge costs. The cost of preclinical and clinical trials is high.
It's no secret that the development of one new drug requires several million US dollars. (The generally accepted "they" have an average cost of 800 million. "With us" is probably cheaper, but how many times? In short, the allocation of grants within the framework of this program is rather a moral support for researchers than a real financial support for the work.
Despite the meager funding, the results are impressive. Here are some examples. Academician Valentin Stonik from the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS) presented the drug histochrome – a powerful antioxidant, stabilizer of cell membranes, which is used in cardiology in complex therapy for coronary heart disease, after bypass surgery, etc. Now scientists of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences are working on the creation of a chitosan-based drug to combat endotoxins. Preliminary animal studies have shown that chitosan improves blood biochemical parameters, reduces morphological and endocrine disorders.
A system for monitoring the health of divers has been created, which monitors changes in the content of hemoglobin, erythrocytes, and leukocyte blood formula in the blood. With its help, the maximum permissible work experience of a diver is determined, which does not lead to a persistent violation of physiological processes.
A leptin-enzyme analysis using shellfish proteins has been developed. It allows you to detect a specific immunoglobulin in a person's blood, which is a marker of cancer at its earliest stage.
Scientists of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) have proposed another method of early diagnosis of cancer – based on data on extracellular DNA, which can be obtained from the simplest analyzes. Professor Maria Zelenkova also spoke about research on the development of antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive drugs that can be effective in very small doses. She said that scientists at the Institute of Organic Chemistry SB RAS have already managed to dramatically increase the activity of nifedipine by converting it into another form. The use of long-term drugs in small doses while maintaining their activity can significantly reduce side effects. New polymer biodegradable materials developed at the Institute of Biophysics SB RAS are already used in surgery, in particular, as stents for the reconstruction of the biliary tract.
Scientists of the Institute of Biology of the Komi National Research Center (Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), based on deciphering the mechanisms of diseases, proposed the use of immunomodulators in the treatment of non-immune diseases and showed the high effectiveness of this method of treatment. Dietary supplements for the prevention of diseases of residents of the Far North, antiviral drugs, including against the avian influenza virus, have also been developed there.
Academician Anatoly Grigoriev, answering a question from a correspondent of "Science and Life", said that a significant increase in funding for the program is expected next year. He noted that the program "Fundamental Sciences – Medicine" began six years ago as a program to improve the healthcare system of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Now "it is reaching the state level." This means that the Ministry of Health may join the program, in addition, a joint subprogram with the Moscow Government "Health of a healthy person" has appeared. Also, the Academy of Sciences is currently negotiating with the Government of Moscow on joint research in the field of diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases.
In the meantime, as scientists have admitted, the introduction of domestic developments (drugs, devices, etc.) into Russian healthcare is extremely difficult. Academician Ugryumov explained that, for example, the purchase by a hospital of a device for diagnosing diseases or surgical interventions is possible only on the basis of a tender, which should be "announced by an official of the Ministry of Health, who will not do this – it is clear for what reasons." Academician Nikolay Myasoedov noted that "it is easier for the Ministry of Health to purchase medicines by import," and "no one is responsible for the introduction of domestic drugs."
Academician Valentin Stonik supported his colleague, explaining that it was for this reason that "we are treated with generics" and that our pharmaceutical industry "has little interest in their (domestic drugs) introduction, since most of it "is not made up of domestic enterprises." He added that modern drugs created in Russia can only be produced at high-tech enterprises, including experienced ones, "which are not supported by anyone and their number is decreasing." "There must be a state system of support (for new developments), otherwise the work will be extremely slow," the academician concluded.
Tatiana Zimina, "Science and Life"
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru04.12.2007