Episodit
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This fortnight's Newsletter
We need to talk about Mpox - July 21st 2024 Newsletter
Timstamps:
Overview: 00:00
What happened? 03:47
What does it mean? 05:55
What’s next? 11:09
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tl;dr
On August 14, 2024, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the ongoing Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the second such declaration in two years. The Africa CDC had also declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security a day earlier. The current outbreak, driven by the more severe Mpox clade Ib, first identified in South Kivu, DRC, has rapidly spread across Central, East, and Southern Africa, reaching countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Africa, with the first European case detected in Sweden.WHO’s ACT-A and FIND convened a high-level meeting on August 15 to coordinate global efforts to address the outbreak. Key priorities include enhancing surveillance, developing a strategic research agenda, and coordinating global health responses. The WHO Global Preparedness Monitoring Board emphasized the importance of robust systems and medical countermeasures in the response, drawing on lessons from previous pandemics.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral disease characterized by fever, rash, pustules, and swollen lymph nodes. The current clade Ib is more virulent and transmissible, though the exact case fatality rate remains uncertain. The 2022 Mpox PHEIC was declared after a global outbreak affecting over 95,000 people in 115 countries, largely through human-to-human transmission.
The PHEIC designation triggers a coordinated global response, including resource mobilization, increased surveillance, and public health measures. The response's success will depend on equitable distribution of medical resources and enhanced surveillance, particularly in underserved regions. WHO and Africa CDC emphasize the need for clear coordination, strategic implementation, and effective communication to manage the outbreak, with a focus on equity and access to diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics.
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Other links:
GPMB resources:
August 12th 2024 Statement on Mpox
May 20224 Report on Equity in Pandemic Preparedness
WHO Mpox Outbreak tool
WHO case trackerSupport the show
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Read the full Project 2025 document here: Mandate for Leadership the Conservative Promise
In this fortnight's episode, we explore Project 2025's proposed policies, which could dramatically impact health, women’s health and safety. The plan includes lifetime caps on Medicaid, reducing coverage for millions, and increased out-of-pocket costs for Medicare recipients. It threatens reproductive rights and seeks to curtail the CDC's public health role, potentially weakening responses to health crises. Basically, an anti-epidemic preparedness vision and plan. The changes could result in higher healthcare costs and reduced access to essential services for women and vulnerable populations
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro02:00 - Preamble
02:56 - Project 2025 High Level Overview
08:55 - Point 1: Changes to Medicaid, Medicare & Lower income patients
14:20 - Point 2: Impact on Public Health & the new role of the CDC
17:06 - Point 3: Food and Drug regulation proposed changes
22:05 - Point 4: Any comments on Safety, Guns and Ammunition?
24:09 - Point 5: Restrictions around Women’s health, access to birth control & more
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In this BONUS episode, we delve into the true crime-style medical scandal of Real Water. The company’s negligence led to severe health issues, including acute liver dysfunction in consumers like Megan Fisher’s son, Tommy. Real Water’s aggressive marketing of its unproven E2 technology claimed extraordinary health benefits, but the FDA found a potentially toxic compound in the water, that caused acute hepatitis in some consumers. The ensuing lawsuits and investigations revealed a lack of quality control and corporate greed. This episode underscores the need for stringent regulatory oversight and vigilance in scrutinizing health claims to protect consumers from similar dangers.
In this episode, I use some short clips from this CBS news episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ_Dk_EPGfAw :
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Check out last summer's True Crime bonus episode: The Case of a Clinical Trial Catastrophe - the TGN1412 ‘Elephant Men’ Clinical trialSupport the show
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In this mini solo episode, we take a high level look at Philippines' health system.
In under twelve minutes, we take an overview of the health system dynamic, payer mechanisms and the fiscal policies the nation has employed to boost health expenditure 6-fold! We delve into the multifaceted nature of the ongoing epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases. Additionally, we explore the impact of the 2024 World Health Assembly on climate-resilient health policies, and the critical issues surrounding health financing and infrastructure improvements. We briefly discuss the diabetes-obesity-hypertension nexus, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these conditions and the need for integrated healthcare approaches to manage and mitigate their impact on public health.
Email me: [email protected] :)
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In this episode, we explore the economics of thinness and the phenomenal rise of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the weight loss market. Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, has become Europe's most profitable company, surpassing even the luxury giant LVMH. We delve into the social and economic capital associated with thinness, examining how societal attitudes toward body image drive the profitability of weight loss drugs.
We also break down the science behind GLP-1 receptor agonists, including their mechanisms and market dynamics. We'll discuss the first-in-class drugs like Saxenda, and best-in-class competitors such as Trulicity and Mounjaro. Novo Nordisk’s strategic business moves, including their significant investment in R&D and marketing, have cemented their market dominance. Additionally, we highlight the broader implications of these drugs on global health and their potential for continued growth in a competitive landscape.
Skinny at all costs? Unravelling the weight loss sensation causing supply chain mayhem: Q1 Pharma Financials Published Across the sector - Guess who's in the lead?Economist: The economics of thinnessLancet: Semaglutide versus GLP-1 agonists Fortune: Wegovy and Ozempic have ignited a gold rush in pharma as well as an upsurge in fake ‘skinny jabs’, leading to surge in hospitalizations ft BloombergVanity Fair: Why Counterfeit Ozempic Is a Global- Growth IndustryEconomist: The battle over the trillion-dollar weight-loss bonanza Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are making blockbuster drugs. Can they maintain their lead?Life After Food? A diabetes drug has become an off-label appetite suppressantHow Do Diabetes Medicines Work for Weight Loss? (Yottled) Cleaveland Clinic: GLP-1 AgonistsWegovy vs. OzempicGuardian: Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk becomes Europe’s most valuable firmWegovy (semaglutide): a new weight loss drug for chronic weight management - Singh et al. Guardian: firm behind weight loss drug Wegovy raises profit forecast to £15.3bnFirst in class, best in class or a wild cardCompare and Contrast the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP1RAs) - Feb '24 Ozempic, Trulicity, and More: 10 GLP-1 Agonist Drugs and How to Navigate Your OptionsGuardian: Women advised to pair effective contraception with ‘skinny jabs’ Amid baby boom reports linked to drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, experts say it would be ‘wise’ to take extra precautionsSciAm: Oze
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In this week’s episode, we look at Colombia's recent move in issuing its first compulsory license. The country challenged ViiV Healthcare's monopoly on their patented drug, dolutegravir, an HIV therapeutic, in an attempt to open doors for affordable generic versions and thus improve accessibility & affordability.
We explore the nuances of licensing mechanisms - voluntary agreements & compulsory licenses. We discuss their impact on public health and innovation, drawing parallels with past instances. We also delve into the proposed European Union-wide Compulsory Licence and industry perspectives on intellectual property. Hard subject here - and as someone who started out in Pharma I find it hard to put full advocacy behind non-market driven mechanisms. But what does the data say?
1. Sudan - https://www.rescue.org/article/fighting-sudan-what-you-need-know-about-crisis
Sign up to the Global Health Conversations Newsletter! :)
2. Colombia issues compulsory license for https://healthpolicy-watch.news/colombia-issues-compulsory-license-to-get-key-generic-hiv-medicine-dolutegravir/#:~:text=The%20government%20of%20Colombia%20has,the%20patent%20owner%2C%20ViiV%20Healthcare.3. ViiV HEALTHCARE STATEMENT ON COMPULSORY LICENCE FOR DOLUTEGRAVIR IN COLOMBIA https://viivhealthcare.com/hiv-news-and-media/news/company-statements/viiv-healthcare-statement-on-compulsory-licence-for-dolutegravir-in-colombia/
4. MPP agreement https://medicinespatentpool.org/licence-post/dolutegravir-adult-dtg5. Draft WHO Pandemic Agreement - March 2024 - https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/pdf_files/inb9/A_inb9_3-en.pdf
6. Proposal for article 11b - https://www.southcentre.int/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SV261_240423.pdf
7. Paper - Access to medicines after TRIPS: Is compulsory licensing an effective mechanism to lower drug prices? A review of the existing evidence - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468182/
8. IFPMA non comprehensive list of voluntary licenses and non-assert declarations: https://www.ifpma.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/i2023_2010_07_28_IFPMA_Statement_VoluntaryLicensing_NonAssert_28Ju.pdf
9. How The EU Prepares For the Next Global Pandemic Domestically: An Examination of the Union Compulsory Licence https://genevahealthfiles.substack.com/p/how-the-eu-prepares-for-the-next?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=79396&post_id=143395445&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1zo8cv&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
10. GSK position on IP:Support the show
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This is Part 2 of our 2 Part interview.
Listen here for Part 1:
- Listen here on Spotify
- Listen here on Apple Podcasts
- Listen here on Audible
Today I interview Ema Prohić and we discuss proper teeth brushing, systemic issues in dental care and continue on the theme of the true cost of oral health. Drawing on her experience in different health systems, we discuss the financing of dental procedures, dentist fear and how to avoid the most common oral health pitfalls. We also discuss a public health project that I lead back in 2020 with the Ministry of Health Qatar and PHCC wherein she focussed on integrating oral health into a primary care program. This is Part 1 of a super conversation this season. And you won't want to miss it.
Ema is a doctor of dental medicine from Croatia, currently undertaking her specialization in orthodontics and facial orthopedics in Barcelona, Spain. She started her professional career as a dentist in the UK after completing her MSc in International Health Management at Imperial College Business School and has continued working in the UK in several dental practices as an NHS and private practitioner.
Join The Conversation - Sign up to the Global Health conversations newsletter: Check out the newsletter
Contact me: [email protected]Support the show
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On this episode I interview Ema Prohić and we discuss the true cost of oral health. Drawing on her experience in different health systems, we discuss the financing of dental procedures, dentist fear and how to avoid the most common oral health pitfalls. We also discuss a public health project that I lead back in 2020 with the Ministry of Health Qatar and PHCC wherein she focussed on integrating oral health into a primary care program. This is Part 1 of a super conversation this season. And you won't want to miss it.
1. Fluoride and caries prevention: a scoping review of public health policies2. NHS dental recovery plan: is this the correct use of limited funding?
Ema is a doctor of dental medicine from Croatia, currently undertaking her specialization in orthodontics and facial orthopedics in Barcelona, Spain. She started her professional career as a dentist in the UK after completing her MSc in International Health Management at Imperial College Business School and has continued working in the UK in several dental practices as an NHS and private practitioner.
Resources;Support the show
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In this episode we discussed oral health as a public health issue. Discussing system challenges, incentivisation and disincentivasation, dental caries as the most common infectious disease, bacteria and the use of antibiotics.
Ema is a doctor of dental medicine from Croatia, currently undertaking her specialization in orthodontics and facial orthopedics in Barcelona, Spain. She started her professional career as a dentist in the UK after completing her MSc in International Health Management at Imperial College Business School and has continued working in the UK in several dental practices as an NHS and private practitioner.
Watch the cheeky behind the scenes video as I remote recorded this episode with Dr Ema Prohic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYtwPcdP-2w&list=PLuMBJBscY0rlz0UzeigxHVA3bfRMnzz7i&index=2
The Podcast episode will be available on Global Health Conversations wherever you listen on Sunday 31 March.Support the show
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In this episode, in recognition of International Women's Day, we talk about cervical cancer and discuss its significance as a symbol of global health disparities and gender inequality. Cervical cancer incidence is exacerbated by socio-economic factors and disproportionately affects women in poverty.
We discuss the importance of HPV vaccination, regular screening, and innovative prevention strategies like diagnostic tools to enable self-sampling. And the incredible toll of the devastating disease.
Resources:
Subscribe to the newsletter - https://globalhealthconversations.substack.com
1. Podcast Episode: Cancer in Africa: The dual burden of disease2. HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening: a systematic review of values and preferences: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34011537/
3. Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: a review of current estimates of the national burden, data gaps, and future needs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S14702045220027044. Podcast Episode: The Role of Storytelling in Women's Health
5. World Bank: New Data Show Massive, Wider-than-Expected Global Gender Gap
6. No equality for working women in any country in the world, study revealsSupport the show
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Check out the newsletter
In this week’s solocast we discussed the cost of medical care. Particularly, I attempted to answer the question: Why do Americans pay (so much) more for healthcare? With my health economist hat on - I looked into transparency, drug prices and administrative costs. But are these only reasons that the US has the world’s third highest out of pocket health expenditure? And, moreover, how does this affect patients and patient outcomes?
Resources:
1. Why are American Healthcare costs so high - Vlogbrothers
2. Vox: The true story of America’s sky-high prescription drug prices
Get in touch with me here: [email protected]Support the show
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This is the official last episode of Season 1! The Global Health Conversations Newsletter continues throughout the holidays until we're back after the Christmas holidays. Click here to Sign up to the free Global Health Conversations fortnightly newsletter. It is packed with the latest news in global health with themes each fortnight. You will also be notified when the next exciting interview is up!
Today's episode focussed on sustainability in the Pharma and biotech industries - redefining what sustainability means in the field. Our special guest, Elisabetta Marani, or Eli, as I call her is a sustainability expert with almost a decade of experience working gin sustainability, CSR, continuous improvement & supply chain in the Pharma, Biotech and Medical devices industries; including at Biotech, Catalent and Amplifion. She has a wealth of knowledge and a dear friend of mine having completed our MScs together in Drug Discovery & Pharma Management at the UCL School of Pharmacy. She is also the founder of The Young Sustainability Network - providing guidance and solutions for young professionals with an interest in working in sustainability.
We talked about many topics including circular economy, greenwashing, net zero carbon emissions goals and the role of sustainability in Pharma, practical solutions, access to medicines as a key objective of the industry alongside furthering environmental sustainability aims and if you are a young professional interested in this area - be sure to listen to the end as Eli provides her expert advice in this area. If you are not a young professional, be sure to listen to the very end for Eli's advice as to how we can all make a difference in our personal spheres of work.
About Today's Guest:
Elisabetta Marani graduated in Biochemistry at the University of Sheffield, pursued a masters at UCL in drug discovery & pharma management, and later on an Msc in environmental management at the Open University.
She worked in the pharma & biotech industry for 6+ years, first focusing on environmental impact of pharma production sites and progressively moving to corporate roles of ESG reporting, wider corporate social responsibility programs management. She recently moved over to the medical device/hearing care industry and is now in the function of procurement, focusing on building sustainable supply chain and sourcing programs .
She is a Certified Auditor ISO14001, Sustainability Practitioner (IEMA) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. She is also founder of The Young Sustainability Network (TYSN), an online global community aimed to support and empower young professionals as they embark in sustainability careers.
Disclaimer provided by guest:
Views expressed are personal opinions of the guest speaker and do not represent the views of the companies she has worked or currently works for in any way.
If you are interested in a career in sustainability and would like to get in touch with Eli's initiative, reach out to The Young Sustainability Network (link).Support the show
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*****If you or a friend or loved one has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, I strongly encourage you to 1. Click here to find a domestic violence hotline or helpline near you in your country please speak to someone who will understand your situation and help. 2. Delete your search history and stay safe. *****
Sign up to the Global Health Conversations fortnightly newsletter
These are the ways in which women disproportionately die prematurely because of being women. Throughout this episode, you will hear me use this phrase as I walk through the ways that gender based violence impacts the right to long and healthy life; as well as the real life stories of survivors. Fortunate to have lived but with life long scars - physical and emotional - to carry.
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- Listen to Episode 10: The Role of Storytelling in Women's Health (ft. Loredana Marta)
- Ross Kemp Human trafficker interview (TW)
Sources of clips used:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hI9p_PhbKQ
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Num0P3H7lU&t=415s
- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QG4iyS0MYUw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I_o0l5jdOg
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1XvFSoUhWI&t=191s
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77vz3r7OmZA
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1i2IlkLbUSupport the show
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(Note: I was unfortunately unable to add the supplementary slides to the show notes. However, the image described in question 8 is in this week's Newsletter. Thanks for understanding and I hope you enjoyed the episode! If so, it really helps me if you leave me a kind, cheeky little five star rating ;) Thank you, Friend, for being part of the Conversation.)
This week's episode delves into the fundamentals of global health. A beginners guide to the most basic concepts.
The first part focussed on this overview: 04:00
The second part is a fun Global Health Quiz: 18:35
Each of the 8 questions is designed to illustrate an important concept in global health. The questions are below. And so are the answers.
Global Health General Knowledge Quiz Questions1. What percentage of the world lives in extreme poverty today?
2. Average Life Expectancy at birth globally is 73 (2020). Which country has a lower life expectancy than the global average?
3. How many babies are born per woman in Sri Lanka (fertility rate)?
4. What is the global average adult literacy rate (female)?
5. What is the immunisation coverage for measles and DPT in Zimbabwe?
6. Maternal mortality (per 100 000 live births) ranges from 2 – 1150 globally. What is the global average?
7. What percentage of the world’s population live in cities?
8.The world average for out-of-pocket expenditure is 18% of total health expenditure. Which country has the highest OOP %?_______
Mentioned in the episode:
1. The End of An Era: 2015 Millennium Development goals round-up (2016)
2. The Lancet Global Health (2023): A call to action: the global failure to effectively tackle maternal mortality rates_______
D C A B D BD A
Quiz Answers:Support the show
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Timestamps:
Intro & Update: 01:36
Health Systems strengthening: 5:07
Local manufacturing: 19:19
Read the Newsletter here
Summary:
This week’s episode provides a high level summary of important pillars in health systems strengthening and provides background on the move to manufacture vaccines and biologics regionally in Africa and beyond.
Listen to Part 1 here: Universal Health Coverage: No-one Left Behind & Financial Protection (Part 1)
Tracking universal health coverage: 2023 global monitoring reportBrookings Op-ed: Africa must produce its own vaccinesThe Guardian: South Africa launches ‘unprecedented’ investigation of Johnson & Johnson over TB drug prices Health Systems Strengthening points:
Resources:1. Health Service Delivery
2. Health Workforce Development - health workforce has been a cornerstone of discussions
3. Health Infrastructure and Equipment:
4. Health Information Systems:
5. Health Financing:
Develop sustainable and equitable financing mechanisms, such as taxation, health insurance, and social health protection schemes, to ensure that healthcare services are affordable and accessible to all, regardless of income. Reduce out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare, which can lead to financial hardship.6. Governance and Leadership:
Strengthen the governance and leadership of health systems by improving policies, regulations, and management structures. Enhance transparency and accountability to prevent corruption and mismanagement.7. Community Engagement and Empowerment:
Involve communities in decision-making processes and encourage them to actively participate in their own health care. Promote health education and awareness to empower individuals to make informed health choices.8. Collaboration across sectors:
Recognize that health outcomes are influenced by factors beyond the healthcare sector, such as education, sanitation, nutrition, and economic conditions. Foster collaboration with other sectors to address these social determinants of health.9. Research and Innovation:
Encourage research and innovation to continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare services. Promote the adoption of evidence-based practices and technologies.10. Emergency Preparedness and Response:
Strengthen the health system's ability to respond to public health emergencies and disasters, ensuring that it can provide essential services even during crises.11. Equity and Inclusivity:
Ensure that vulnerable and marginalized populations, including those in remote or conflict-affected areas, have equitable access to healthcare services.12. Monitoring and Evaluation:
Establish mechanisms to regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of the health system in achieving UHC goals and make necessary adjustments.Support the show
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We discussed the role and impact of storytelling on women’s health and explored inequities that exist in this area. We also discussed health tech and the many persisting shortcomings that impact women’s health, treatment and lives.
Loredana Marta pens a newsletter under the name Vulvarina about how sexism interferes with our lives in unseen ways, in areas ranging from medical care, to industrial design and social dynamics. Her storytelling is stats- and fact-based, letting her legal background shine through, jazzed up with approachable anecdotes of mundane London life. She spent the last two years in the startup scene, where along with her two cofounders, she built OPEN social, bringing genuine conversations back to social media by matching people based on their moods. Writer and tech gal/lady (?) is currently exploring female health and digitalisation, as well as a gender and ethnicity personalised approach to medical research and care.
Click here to read and subscribe to Vulvarina. Loredana's hard hitting newsletter.
Resources from this week's episode:
1. The leadership gap in healthcare: https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/perspectives/health/2019/jan/women-in-healthcare-make-80--of-purchasing-decisions--yet-13--of.html
2. Female founders in the US Venture Capital ecosystem: https://pitchbook.com/news/reports/2022-all-in-female-founders-in-the-us-vc-ecosystem
3. Health system tracker - health expenditures: https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-expenditures-vary-across-population/#Average%20individual%20health%20spending,%202019%C2%A0
4. Discussion of the research and funding gap in women's health:
https://medcitynews.com/2022/12/womens-health-is-suffering-due-to-lack-of-research-and-funding-experts-say/
5. Commentary piece on the profitability of women's health - Why we're betting big on women's health
6. Research Funding for Women's Health: A Modeling Study of Societal Impact: Findings for Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementia Model (Free to access)
7. Medical textbooks: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081015132108.htm
8. Time: 'Women Die From Heart Attacks More Often Than Men': https://time.com/5499872/women-heart-disease/
9. Principles of Sex-based Differences in Physiology: https://www.sciencedirect.com/bookseries/advances-in-molecular-and-cell-biology/vol/34/suppl/C
10. Guardian commentary on study: 'Women 32% more likely to die after operation by male surgeon'If you're not yet subscribed to the Global Health Conversations fortnightly newsletter, click here to check it out
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Sign up to the Fortnightly Newsletter here
In today’s episode our Conversation was centered around the role of Medical countermeasures (MCMs) in pandemic preparedness and we also touched on the concept of Disease X.
Medical countermeasures refer to the measures and products aimed at addressing the medical needs arising from infectious disease outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored deficiencies and requirements in ensuring a swift, efficient, and equitable response to global infectious disease outbreaks. One significant concern lies in the institutional capacity required to advance research and development and introduce novel medical countermeasures (MCMs) for pandemics or diseases with pandemic potential to the market. An all-encompassing perspective that guarantees equitable and sustainable access to MCMs involves expeditious progress throughout the stages of research and development, manufacturing, production, delivery, and the creation of demand, particularly for high-risk populations. Addressing global challenges like a pandemic crisis or a potential pandemic crisis exposes the world to shared vulnerabilities, necessitating international collaboration in response. During the pandemic, international collaborations were established, and existing ones were adapted to meet evolving needs. Additionally, we briefly discussed the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), which serves as a cross-agency partnership focused on providing access to COVID-19 tools, including MCMs. This underscores the critical emphasis on pandemic preparedness. In addition to addressing current challenges, it is imperative that our global efforts in pandemic preparedness and medical countermeasures remain vigilant and adaptable to the ever-evolving landscape of infectious diseases, including the potential emergence of "Disease X," a term used to represent unknown or unexpected pathogens that may pose future threats to humanity.
The last five minutes of this episode includes a teaser of the Johnson & Johnson Bedquilline story of their treatment for multi drug resistant Tuberculosis that, post patent extension, the company agreed to waive their rights in certain regions where MDR Tuberculosis is highly prevelent. This will allow generics manufacturers to manufacture the drug and thus make it available at a lower price point to patients that need it most. But the story gets a little more interesting. The video mentioned is included in the full original article. Read the full article from the newsletter archives here: https://globalhealthconversations.substack.com/p/breakthrough-in-drug-patents-for
And for follow ups, check out the later newsletters and subscribe for more news as this story unfolds: https://globalhealthconversations.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile
Resources:
Lancet Paper: Disease X: accelerating the development of medical countermeasures for the next pandemic
Disease X - Comments on Disease X from Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund - Third party article: https://www.politico.eu/article/next-pandemic-disease-climate-change-peter-sands-global-fund/Support the show
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This solocast episode dives into the dual burden of disease and its intersection with cancers in Africa.
Across the African continent life expectancies are increasing. Advancements in primary care, strengthening of public health care systems and access to vital medical treatments have resulted in longer, healthier lives across the continent over the past few decades.
Nonetheless, living longer makes one susceptible to acquiring an array of non-communicable diseases associated with longer life.
The dual-burden of disease concept deals with the phenomenon of more and more emerging economies dealing with a combination of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria alongside the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
This paradigm and its many nuances are demonstrated through a story. Thelma, a fictional character from Tanzania, illustrates the multi-faceted challenges faced by individuals dealing with both infectious and non-communicable diseases that typify the dual-burden of disease issue. And the story weaves itself through the episode.
Discussing the rising cancer burden in Africa, emphasizing the significance of comprehensive cancer prevention and early detection programs we also addresses the increasing adoption of unhealthy lifestyles and their role in elevating cancer risks.
And the insufficient access to cancer treatments that exists in too many parts of the continent due to financial constraints and inadequate healthcare systems as a critical challenge.
Efforts to improve access and provide palliative care are explored, along with the role of research and innovation in addressing Africa's unique cancer challenges. Touching upon the importance of vaccination initiatives, government programs, and specialized treatment centers in addressing cancer.
We underscore the need for investment in cancer research, local production of medical products, and the strengthening of biomanufacturing infrastructure to enhance healthcare accessibility as well as safe and reliable supply chains for Africa.
The episode aims to spark awareness and conversations about the importance of targeted interventions, healthcare access, education, and research to address this complex public health issue.
Resources:
Sign up to the Fortnightly Newsletter on Global Health Conversations
World Humanitarian Day https://www.un.org/en/observances/humanitarian-day
Relevant blog articles:
The Basics: The Paradox of the Dual Burden – NCDs and CDs (2016) Seven lessons I learned from Professor Hans Rosling: A Tribute (2017)Challenges Facing the South African Pharmaceutical Industry (2017)Other resources:
World Cancer Research Fund. (2020). Cancer statistics for Africa.International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (2018). Cancer in Africa: Epidemiology and Prevention.Contact: [email protected]Support the show
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Dr. Asika Miriam is the Hospital Manager at Zenith Medical and Kidney Center. Miriam is a medical doctor and a healthcare management consultant with 7+ years of experience in clinical service delivery, healthcare operations management, health policy, planning & financing, strategic planning, and performance improvement gleaned from career endeavors in Eastern Europe, England, and Africa. Miriam is an alumnus of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, where she earned her MD (General medicine) degree. She also holds a postgraduate degree in International Health Management from Imperial College Business School. Miriam is passionate about African development and wants to improve healthcare delivery and strengthen the region's healthcare system.
This was a great conversation with a truly insightful healthcare professional.
Miriam loves to inspire others and often works with earlier career professionals to help them figure out their path. Especially fellow clinicians going into management. Reach out to Miriam here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriambeth-asika-173893a8/Support the show
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This episode is a little different. Today's episode is a story looking at the case of the TGN1412 CIinical Trial. A trial that went terribly wrong.
I thoroughly enjoyed making this episode and have a number of ideas for similar ones. If you liked this bonus episode, please leave a 5 star rating so that I know you're interested to hear more in future.
In March of 2006, a clinical trial for the drug TGN1412 gathered eight young and healthy men as volunteers. Within a mere 16 hours, all six were urgently transferred to Northwick Park Hospital's intensive care unit due to severe and life-threatening reactions.This catastrophic event, now infamously known as the 'Elephant Man Drug Trial,' sent shockwaves rippling through the medical and pharmaceutical communities. TGN1412, a groundbreaking monoclonal antibody drug developed by TeGenero, a German biotech company, had held the promise of treating autoimmune diseases and leukemia. Paraxel, a prominent contract research organization, was responsible for conducting the Phase I trial, the critical first-in-human testing, within an independent clinical trials unit at Northwick Park.
Prior to the trial, comprehensive clinical and animal testing, including studies involving non-human primates, had been diligently carried out. These preliminary tests had seemingly indicated no signs of safety issues.
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Expert group on Clinical Trials report: Duff GW, et al. (Expert Group on Phase One Clinical Trials) (7 December 2006). Expert Group on Phase One Clinical Trials: Final report (Report).
Excellent, open-access paper looking at the biochemical phenomenon behind this case. Revisiting CD28 Superagonist TGN1412 as Potential Therapeutic for Pediatric B Cell Leukemia: A Review
*Correction: The compensation that the 6 affected participants received was £2mil to be split between the 6 participants.Support the show
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