Risk benefit assessments needed for H5N1 Bird Flu research

Risk benefit assessments needed before H5N1 Bird Flu experiments continue.

Approximately 9 months ago, a voluntary moratorium on Bird Flu research went into effect to allow scientists time to figure out how to conduct research without the findings falling into the hands of terrorists or others who might create bio-terrorism strains.

Right now, H5N1 ("Bird Flu") rarely is transmitted to humans; when it does, it is often times fatal.  So, studying the potential for mutations of this strain are reasonable, with the goal of developing ways to protect the public.  But, creating dangerous mutations in the lab raises the specter of potential accidental releases of the mutations.  And publishing research on these mutations also poses a potential risk in making it easier for terrorists to create their own mutations.

The LA Times reports that key players in the debate have weighed in.  But, things are currently at a standstill. 

Our take:

While it is important that research continue, reasonable steps should be taken to protect the public. 

Perhaps a registry of influenza scientists can be created, with only authorized scientists given access to the most risky information.  More general information (minus dangerous details) can be made available to the public on the findings of the research. 

While it may seem anti-democratic to guard scientific knowledge, we see this as no different than withholding information on “how to build a bomb.”   Sharing scientific knowledge is important and one of the best ways to quickly find solutions.  But, true influenza researchers should have no problem with safeguarding the public while at the same time sharing key data with only those who are working to find answers to this complex challenge.

Swine flu rears its ugly little head under the radar.

Pigs on the loose and under the radar. 

A woman in Ohio dies after exposure to a pig at an agricultural fair…   Pigs in Korea carry H1N2.

An article in New Scientist provides a worrisome look at the potential for the global resurgence of Swine Flu (H1N2). 

Author Debora MacKenzie points to examples from Korea to Ohio to show the dangers of this strain of the flu. MacKenzie describes how Robert Webster, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, placed "H1N2 flu virus, from the lungs of a pig slaughtered in South Korea in 2009, into the noses and windpipes of three ferrets. " The ferrets perished.  This is a cause for concern as ferrets process influenza in much the same way as humans.

Of the experts contacted by New Scientist, all agreed that further research is needed to find out what mutations will make the Swine Flu dangerous to humans. 

CDC report shows flu virtually nonexistent in the US

The weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division of the CDC shows that influenza ("the flu") is virtually non-existent in the United States.

Influenza A (H1) has zero reported cases.  A (H3)  shows 21 cases with  2009 H1N1 at 2 cases.

There were 31 cases of Influenza A where sub-typing was not performed.  There were 102 cases of Influenza B reported and 7 cases of H3N2v.

Given the population of the United States (312.8 million), these numbers are statistically insignificant. 

Flu Crazy 200 - The Largest Pharmaceutical Companies in the world, by size

Flu Crazy 200 - The Largest Pharmaceutical Companies in the world, by size

Johnson    & Johnson
Pfizer Inc
Roche Holding    Ltd.
Novartis AG
Merck &    Co.,
GlaxoSmithKline    plc
Sanofi SA
Abbott Laboratories   
Novo-Nordisk A/S   
Bayer AG   
AstraZeneca plc   
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Amgen,Inc.   
Eli Lilly   
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Gilead    Sciences,Inc.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Celgene    Corporation
Allergan,Inc
McKesson Corporation   
Astellas Pharma    Inc.
Shire PLC   
CSL Ltd.   
Fresenius SE
Alexion    Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Valeant    Pharmaceuticals    International,
Cardinal Health, Inc.
Daiichi    Sankyo    Company
Eisai Co.,Ltd.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
AmerisourceBergen Corporation   
Mylan Inc
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co
Perrigo    Company   
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc
Forest Laboratories,Inc
Elan Corporation plc
Life Technologies Corporation
Herbalife Ltd.   
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
UCB S.A.
Watson Pharmaceuticals,    Inc.
Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings
Merck KGaA
Ono Pharmaceutical Co
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings
Kyowa Hakko Kirin
Grifols    S.A.   
Hospira,Inc   
Yunnan Baiyao Group
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding
Actelion Ltd.   
Jiangsu    Hengrui    Medicine
Shionogi & Co
Cipla Ltd
Kangmei    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
IDEXX    Laboratories,    Inc.
Shandong    Weigao    Group
Lupin    Limited   
Hisamitsu    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Dainippon    Sumitomo    Pharma
Endo    Pharmaceuticals    Holdings
Warner    Chilcott    PLC
Galenica    AG   
H.    Lundbeck    A/S
BioMarin    Pharmaceutical    Inc.
PT    Kalbe    Farma
GlaxoSmithKline    Pharmaceuticals    Ltd
Dabur    India    Ltd
Santen    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Sichuan    Kelun    Pharmaceutical
Ranbaxy    Laboratories    Ltd.
Tianjin    Tasly    Pharmaceutical
Chr.    Hansen    Holding
Celesio    AG   
Shenzhen    Hepalink    Pharmaceutical
Richter    Gedeon    Nyrt.
Beijing    Tongrentang    Co.,
Orion    Oyj   
Salix    Pharmaceuticals    Ltd
Medipal    Holdings    Corp
Shanghai    Fosun    Pharmaceutical
Suzuken    Co.,    Ltd.
Cadila    Healthcare   
Jilin    Aodong    Medicine
China    Resources    Sanjiu
A    Meda    AB
Jazz    Pharmaceuticals    PLC.
Techne    Corporation   
United    Therapeutics    Corporation
Amylin    Pharmaceuticals,    Inc.
Hualan    Biological    Engineering
ARIAD    Pharmaceuticals,    Inc.
ONYX    Pharmaceuticals,    Inc.
Krka,    tovarna    zdravil,
Harbin    Pharmaceutical    Group
Zhejiang    Hisun    Pharmaceutical
Questcor    Pharmaceuticals,    Inc.
Shijiazhuang    Yiling    Pharmaceutical
Seattle    Genetics,    Inc.
Qualicorp    SA
Ipsen    SA   
Hikma    Pharmaceuticals    plc
Miraca    Holdings    Inc.
Fleury    S.A.   
Alkermes    Public    Limited
GlaxoSmithKline    Consumer    Healthcare
Kobayashi    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Denki    Kagaku    Kogyo
Medicis    Pharmaceutical    Corporation
ViroPharma,    Inc.  
Genomma    Lab    Internacional
Tsumura    &    Co.
Vivus,    Inc.    United
Divi's    Laboratories    Ltd.
Nippon    Kayaku    Company
Huadong    Medicine    Co.,
Beijing    SL    Pharmaceutical
Gansu    Yasheng    Industrial
BTG    plc    United
Guilin    Jiqi    Pharmaceutical
Zhejiang    Medicine    Co.,
STADA    Arzneimittel    AG
Pharmacyclics,    Inc.   
Sawai    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Shenzhen    Salubris    Pharmaceuticals
S&P    Pharmaceutical    Co
Piramal    Healthcare    Limited
Glenmark    Pharmaceuticals    Ltd
Theravance,    Inc.  
Tieling    Newcity    Investment
Zhangzhou    Pientzehuang    Pharmaceutical
Taro    Pharmaceutical    Industries
Human    Genome    Sciences,
Recordati    S.p.A.   
Impax    Laboratories    Inc.
Wuhan    Humanwell    Healthcare
Financiere    de    Tubize
Chongqing    Zhifei    Biological
DiaSorin    S.p.A.   
Beijing    Double-Crane    Pharmaceutical
Opko    Health    Inc.
Inner    Mongolia    Yili
Kyorin    Holdings    Inc
Ironwood    Pharmaceuticals    Inc.
China    Shineway    Pharmaceutical
Almirall    S.A.   
Amarin    Corporation    plc
Adcock    Ingram    Holdings
Corporativo    Fragua,    S.A.
Rohto    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Guangzhou    Pharmaceutical    Co
Mochida    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Toho    Holdings    Co.,
Par    Pharmaceutical    Companies,
Halozyme    Therapeutics,    Inc.
Kaken    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Tibet    Urban  Development
Virbac    SA
Jiangxi    Jiangzhong  Pharmaceutical
Tempo    Scan    Pacific,
Wockhardt    Ltd.   
China    Medical    System
Guilin    Sanjin    Pharmaceutical
Scinopharm    Taiwan,    Ltd.
Shanghai    RAAS    Blood Products Co
BB    Biotech    AG
Sartorius    Stedim    Biotech
Akorn,    Inc.    United
Xizang    Haisco    Pharmaceutical
Guizhou    Bailing    Group
Kissei    Pharmaceutical    Co.,
Tibet    Cheezheng Tibet Medicine Co, Inc.
The Medicines    Company
AstraZeneca    Pharma   
Zhejiang    Huahai    Pharmaceutical
Green    Cross    Corp
Jiangsu    Wuzhong    Industrial