Health

Johnson & Johnson Projects Aim to Spot Who’ll Get a Disease

Published

10 years ago

February 13, 2015

Oakland Post

In this Oct. 10, 2008, file photo, Johnson & Johnson products are shown in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Imagine being able to identify who is likely to develop a particular disease — and then stop the disorder before it starts.

That’s the goal of three research projects launched by Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical research arm, Janssen Research & Development. The projects, announced Thursday, aim to prevent illnesses — particularly ones related to aging and lifestyle — including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease and Type 1 diabetes.

“A hundred years from now, someone’s going to look back on us and say, ‘Can you believe they waited until you got a disease and then did something?'” Dr. William Hait, head of Janssen research and development, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The scope of the effort is a first for a major drug company. There are a few small-scale projects by groups of scientists or small technology companies collecting genetic data or blood samples from patients to learn more about diseases and develop new therapies, in one case for possible preventive treatments.

But since the 1800s, big drugmakers have focused on making medicines to treat or cure illnesses. The move by Johnson & Johnson, the world’s biggest maker of health care products, is possible because of recent, huge advances in genetics and other science. Meanwhile, some preventive treatments for widespread illnesses have become routine in developed countries. Think: blood testing and use of cholesterol-lowering statin pills to prevent heart attacks and strokes in at-risk patients, or colonoscopies and removal of any polyps to prevent colon cancer.

Billions of research dollars will be needed to accomplish Johnson & Johnson’s goals, and it could easily take a generation, cautions analyst Steve Brozak, president of WBB Securities. But Brozak said Johnson & Johnson is one of a few organizations that have the resources — money and scientific talent — to succeed at what he called a shift to “true modern medicine” that’s as revolutionary as Henry Ford creating the manufacturing assembly line.

Johnson & Johnson, which is based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, has nearly 10,000 scientists and other employees at Janssen alone, plus four “innovation centers” collaborating with university researchers. And it’s got plenty of money, with a $16 billion profit last year. It’s also a leading maker of diagnostic tests, plus vaccines, surgical equipment, prescription pills, injected biologic medicines and consumer health products.

The company’s three new research programs have varying approaches:

—The Janssen Prevention Center, which began operating on Jan. 1, will focus on preventing some conditions that most burden the elderly — and health care systems paying for their care. Those include Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease. The center will build on the company’s expertise in vaccines.

—The Janssen Human Microbiome Institute will study the microbiome, bacteria living in and on the body recently found to have a key role in our health. Learning more could help in creating treatments for autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disorders, many of which lack good treatments.

—The Disease Interception Accelerator, which is just beginning in Raritan, New Jersey, will explore genetic defects and other causes of diseases so they can be detected and stopped or inhibited long before symptoms set in.

For the accelerator’s first program, Janssen is partnering with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to find ways to prevent Type 1 diabetes, a complex, expensive immune disorder that can cause blindness, amputations and premature death. It involves the immune system steadily destroying beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which is needed to help convert blood sugar into energy.

National screening programs in the U.S. and Germany are working to find youngsters at high risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, and multiple patient studies are under way here to try to “rebalance” overly aggressive immune systems to stop them from attacking beta cells, said Dr. Richard Insel, the foundation’s chief scientific officer. One gives participants tiny doses of insulin by mouth and another is trying a rheumatoid arthritis drug to tamp down the immune system.

The foundation and Janssen now are planning specific research projects that can build on that work and other findings to prevent diabetes early on, Insel said.

“Decades ago, we never would have been thinking about prevention of this disease,” he said. “We’re in a very different position today.”

___

Follow Linda A. Johnson https://twitter.com/lindaj_onpharma

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Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation. During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

Published

7 days ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.

During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

“California is continuing our work to secure additional tools and resources to improve access to health care, clean air and water, and secure critical funding to support communities recovering from disasters,” said Newsom.

At the White House, Newsom met with President Joe Biden and key officials, advocating for disaster relief funding, healthcare expansion, and environmental protection. He also engaged in discussions with senior Biden-Harris officials, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to address water quality improvements and the San Luis Dam project, which will support water supplies for two million Californians.

“Building on our strong partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, California is working closely with the White House over the next two months to deliver the critical protections and resources our communities need,” Newsom said.

On Capitol Hill, Newsom met with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with other Congressional leaders, to emphasize the need to approve pending disaster funding, healthcare programs, and environmental protections. He also previewed California’s upcoming special session to proactively address potential federal challenges when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Newsom’s discussions also focused on securing Medicaid waivers from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance behavioral health services and reduce homelessness. The state seeks approval for the BH-CONNECT waiver, which would address behavioral health and homelessness, and the MCO Tax Waiver, which would provide over $20 billion for Medi-Cal to improve healthcare access.

Additionally, California is pushing for Clean Air Act waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are crucial for enforcing air quality regulations. These measures are projected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths and provide $116 billion in health benefits over the next three decades, according to the Governor’s office.

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California Reports First Case of Mpox in the United States

On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), reported the first known case of clade 1 Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, in the United States. However, the risk to the public remains low, according to the CDPH.

Published

7 days ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

On Nov. 16, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), reported the first known case of clade 1 Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, in the United States.

However, the risk to the public remains low, according to the CDPH.

“This case was confirmed in an individual who recently traveled from Africa and is related to the ongoing outbreak of clade I mpox in Central and Eastern Africa,” reads a statement the CDPH released.

According to the DDPH, “The affected individual received health care in San Mateo County based on their travel history and symptoms. The individual is isolating at home and recovering.”

Public health workers are also conducting a contact tracing exercise and reaching out to people who have been in close proximity to the affected person.

“The mpox specimens from the traveler are being sent to the CDC for further laboratory testing,” the CDPH press release continues.

Californians can take a number of steps to prevent Mpox. Here’s more information:

Preventing Mpox Infection

It appears clade I mpox spreads in a similar manner as clade II mpox, through close (skin-skin), intimate and sexual contact. The identification of a potentially more severe mpox version in the United States is a good reminder for individuals who have certain risk factors to take preventive action, including:

Getting vaccinated if you may be at risk for mpox. For the greatest protection, make sure you get both doses of the vaccine. Find mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS) near you.
Taking precautions if you were exposed to mpox. Get the mpox vaccine before symptoms develop and consider avoiding intimate contact with others for 21 days. Watch yourself for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
Preventing spread if you have been told you have mpox. Avoid contact with others until the rash is healed, clean and disinfect shared areas in the home, and notify people who may have been exposed.
Talking to your sexual partner(s).
Avoiding skin-to-skin contact with those who have a rash or sores that look like mpox.
Not sharing items with someone who has mpox.
Washing your hands often.
Protecting yourself when caring for someone with mpox by using masks, gowns and gloves.

Visit the CDPH website to learn more about Mpox with Sexual Health Toolkits and a Campaign Materials Page.

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California Department of Aging Offers Free Resources for Family Caregivers in November

In honor of National Family Caregivers Month this November, the California Department of Aging (CDA) is spotlighting a range of free resources to support caregivers of older adults and individuals with disabilities. Through its extensive network of Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), the state provides essential tools to help caregivers manage their responsibilities while prioritizing their own health and well-being.

Published

7 days ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

“Caregiving is a great act of love, and this month — and every day — we uplift California’s caregivers as the under-recognized backbone of our families and communities,” said Susan DeMarois, director of the CDA. DeMarois emphasized the need for caregivers to access available support to better balance their roles without compromising their own health.

California is home to more than 4.5 million unpaid family caregivers, who contribute an estimated $81 billion annually in economic value through their care. Most caregivers are women who balance work, family, and caregiving responsibilities, often at the cost of their physical and emotional health. Given California’s aging population, the demand for caregiver support is rapidly growing, underscoring the importance of these free resources.

Thousands of caregivers accessed these services in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, benefiting from tools like professional care management and respite support. The Aging in California Resource Guide, available in six languages, offers additional information on caregiver support.

Caregivers can learn more about available resources by visiting the CDA website at aging.ca.gov and connecting with local CRCs or AAAs to discover personalized services to support them in their caregiving journey.