Featured Articles
Read our latest stories on the people and scientific innovations making a difference in patients’ lives.
Seeking to Improve Quality of Life for Children with Achondroplasia
For children with achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism, scientists are exploring new ways to restore bone growth and potentially address some of the major health complications with the condition, such as spinal problems, swelling in the brain, frequent ear infections and sleep apnea. Achondroplasia is a rare genetic bone disorder affecting 1 in 15,000 to 40,000 people in the U.S. The average height for men with the condition is about 4 feet, 4 inches and for women it’s 4...
Purpose & Ideals
Connecting Patients to the Resources They Need
At Pfizer, we believe that patients should have access to the medicines they need. Which is why, for more than 30 years, Pfizer RxPathways has helped connect patients to a range of assistance programs that offer insurance support, co-pay help,[1] and medication for free or at a savings. Each year, we receive emails, cards, and phone calls from patients and caregivers across the country expressing their appreciation and gratitude for our services and support. Here are excerpts from...
The Goldilocks of the Elements: Why Iron Levels Have to Be ‘Just Right’
Without iron, there wouldn’t be life as we know it. The element is an essential part of the biologic operating manual for organisms from single-celled bacteria up to complex human beings. But iron also has a dark side: Because of its capacity to turn molecules into free radicals that can damage cell membranes and DNA, too much iron can be as dangerous as too little. In the right amounts, iron is as important as the air we breathe. That’s because the element plays a crucial role in moving...
How Does It Feel to Have Sickle-Cell Disease?: When Listening to Patients Gives Researchers Clues
Molecular biologists certainly have the insider’s view of a disease. They know (or try to find out) how it operates in the body on a cellular level. But the mechanisms of a particular condition aren’t the only thing that matters to these scientists. Starting “outside,” say by learning more about what it’s like to have a disease, and how people generally cope with symptoms such as pain, can help a researcher develop treatments that truly address patients’ needs. Debra Pittman, a research...
In Search of a Better Biomarker: Why Studying Liver Enzymes Matters for Drug Safety
If you’ve ever had a liver function test as part of an annual physical, you may know that the exam screens for certain biomarkers, like liver enzymes in the blood. If these substances are found to be elevated, it may mean that you have a liver disease or have been exposed to some medications or environmental toxins. Liver biomarkers are also important tools in the drug development process. Before a drug can be tested in humans, it must be studied for potential safety risks, including the...
Inside the X-(Chromosome) Files
In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s take a closer look at the “female” sex chromosome: The X. Not to stir up a battle of the sexes, but the X chromosome (females have two of them, while males have one) is five times larger than the Y chromosome, and has 10 times the number of genes. That means it carries more traits — and diseases — than the Y chromosome. The Y chromosome is important in determining a person’s biological gender. But it has much less of a say in someone’s genetic makeup...
How CRISPR Helps Find the Genetic ‘Needle in a Haystack’ of Diseases
CRISPR is best known as a powerful gene editing tool, but it’s also helping scientists search for the genetic sources of certain diseases. There’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about CRISPR, the powerful genome editing tool that acts like a pair of molecular scissors that can snip out and replace a specific chunk of genetic code, allowing scientists to make precise changes. Recent advances have made CRISPR even more precise, and researchers have likened it to a molecular pencil capable...
Deploying DNA-Delivery Trucks To Fix Genetic Diseases
The adeno-associated virus (green) can infect a wide range of vertebrates without causing symptoms. It needs a helper virus like the adenovirus (orange) to replicate. (Science Photo Library) A benign virus, turned DNA-delivery truck, may hold the potential to repair gene malfunctions that can trigger disease. Over millions of years, viruses have evolved to be efficient at invading our cells and inserting their genetic material so they can multiply. If you’ve ever had the flu, measles...
Diagnosing Disease by Voice
Detecting the occurrence of many diseases can be challenging without a blood test or other reliable screening tool. So researchers are now listening for the sounds of disease. Speech is a complex process that requires coordination with our brain, muscles, and respiratory system. Recent research shows that subtle changes in speech, for example slurring or vocal cord tremors, may be early signs of disease or illness like Parkinson’s disease, depression, cardiac problems, and concussion. Peop...
Science & Innovation
One Family’s Hemophilia Journey
This microdocumentary shares the moving story of a family with two young sons who have severe hemophilia, giving us a glimpse into their history and treatment routine. Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder in which the body is unable to properly create a blood clot. Beyond external bleeding, like a cut, people with hemophilia also bleed internally and in their joints, which can lead to crippling arthritis later in life. The story highlights the significant progress made in this therapeutic...
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