Drug development has historically progressed in waves . . .
First Wave:
Kill Bad Cells
Sometimes offers some benefits – which is why it’s still used today.
Side effects include secondary malignancies and immune system damage.
Effects are dose-limiting; patients often can’t handle enough treatment for cure.
Second Wave:
Stimulate Immune Cells
These “Checkpoint inhibitors” can sometimes induce regression
by blocking the “off switch” on killer T-cells.
Blocking these receptors disrupts immune balance and leads to autoimmunity,
including risk of nephritis, pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, etc. Also dose-limiting.
Third Wave:
Fix Aberrant Signal Flow
For most diseases,
the problem is not bad cells or tissues,
nor a weak immune system.
The problem is incorrect
molecular signals between cells.
Correcting aberrant signal flow,
especially to and from immune cells,
is the future of medicine.
