SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Biotech / Medical : AMGEN
AMGN 296.30-0.7%Nov 3 3:59 PM EST
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Frank Stein who wrote (9)4/14/1996 7:03:00 AM
From: olduser   of 42
 
Having the receptor may not bring any profit -- it's a very similar situation as in diabetes: Eli Lilly made millions on the insulin but the signaling mechanism of the insulin receptor has not given any profit to any one yet. In general, it's easier to intervene with a hormone (a injectable blood-born molecule) than a receptor (a cell membrane protein). Having said that, I believe a recently approved diabetic drug (Metformin) is believed to act on receptor level (exact mechanism unsure), but it's a small molecule and one does not need patent on the receptor to make such a drug.

The fact that most obese people do not have defective leptin (quantitatively or qualitatively) should not hurt AMGN either: here I use diabetes again as an example. Most people have type II diabetes who make up to 10 times more insulin than normal people -- the defect is they are resistant to insulin so they need even more than they make. More money is made from treating these patients because they consume a lot more insulin than the type I patients (a true insulin deficiency). Obesity may be the same thing: obese people may have defect on leptin receptor or post-receptor pathway, but only intervention one can offer is just to give them more leptin to overcome this. The issue AMGN has to prove to FDA is that leptin is not toxic to body at such high level. No one knows yet.

Good luck to all (and AMGN)
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News