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To: Mike McFarland who wrote (99388)	4/9/2000 11:53:00 AM
From: Sam Sara	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 164684

From last post: <no gorilla or kings have emerged> Amgen, Biogen, Genzyme, Genentech, Immunex, Chiron <For many years now I have been concerned that our ability to sequence the genome will allow us to target particular ethnic groups with biologic agents> Ethnic groups are not especially genetically similar, oh maybe a few isolated aboriginal tribes. Even the Icelanders, who have been in the news, are not very similar. Your awful comment sounds pretty sci-fi. I'd fear new strains of TB or HIV before I followed that line of thinking too far. Comments: I was using gorilla and king in the strict sense i.e. fitting Geoff Moore definition. None such company has emerged or (really) can emerge, given nature of sector. Targeting ethnic groups- there are alleles that are very group specific e.g Ashkenazi jews with several examples. We have sequenced the "human genome". The task will not be complete until we are able to sequence an entire genome (or perhaps a subset, say expressed genes) from any given individual rapidly. When we do so, we will find ethnic differences. Those differences do not need to be shared by every individual in that ethnic group, the only requirement is that those alleles exist ONLY in that population. I find it difficult to believe that if we are to have "individualized therapy" based on an individuals genetic profile that the possibility of the flip side ("individualized weapon") does not exist. You cannot accept the reality of one without the possibility of the other.... Yes, science fiction for now, but so was going to the moon, AIDS, and the internet. I would not dismiss this so easily...