Medical Breakthroughs – Time Continues And The Inventions Increase

Medical Patents Broker Inc.
By Kenneth Pearce, President

Part 3 of 3 –Warp Speed to the Frontiers

The Vietnam War: One Of Many “Why Am I Here” Wars

The “rat holes” and dense jungles were dangerous. If the enemy did not kill you, the snakes, spiders and “agent orange” would. Like all wars, Vietnam was a boots on the ground war and the plant kingdom made survival more complicated.

Traditional ground ambulances were useless. The Army’s solution: the MEDEVAC helicopter. There were 900,000 missions accomplished where wounded warriors were flown to the hospital during the “Golden Hour” saving many souls. Medical choppers were also the perfect target for the enemy. Try to imagine what it would be like to be a crew member flying into a fire fight several times a day.

Today, the MEDEVAC helicopter is a flying emergency room that is available to transport patients to the nearest tertiary hospital. During the 25–30-minute flight, the patient avoids the stoplights and traffic jams associated with a 60-mile ambulance transport through a metropolitan community.

The 1980s: Imaging the Invisible

In the 1980s, medical sector stocks fluctuated wildly. Seems like everyone knew somebody who knew the “guy” who had an inside source at that company.

This type of scenario was very similar to the Roaring Twenties. However, the 1933 Securities Act changed the dynamic of stock trades, and by the '80s, the SEC came down hard on insider trading.

At the trial of a mass shooter, the defense argued that the drug made the shooter do it. As Dickens, the great author, once wrote, “it was the best of times and the worst of times” for pharma and medical device companies.

Out of all of this confusion, there was the widespread adoption of the MRI scanner. The amazing technology generated images with resolution far superior to X-rays—without the dangerous radiation. Physicians could see soft tissue and bones in stunning detail. And this pleased the patient, because many exploratory surgeries were eliminated. German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen, who discovered X-rays in 1895 would be impressed.

The 2000s: Reading the Hidden Code

It was publicized that the Human Genome Project was completed in 2003. At that time, the consensus was about 92% of the human genome was sequenced. Maybe? During my life of science watching from afar, it seems like every time we conclude it’s finished, we find there is always more. However, the mapping of DNA added a new direction to the always changing science of medicine.

In earnest, the search for the code behind the disease has intensified. By mapping our own DNA, we shifted from treating the symptoms of disease to attempting to understand the code behind them.

The 2000s also saw the rise of the da Vinci surgical robot. This robot gave surgeons the ability to perform microscopic movements that were previously impossible for human hands. Today, we have logistic, disinfecting, socio-therapeutic, diagnostic and pill bots some of which need FDA approval before use.

The 2020s: Where’s The “Drug Factory”

The latest drug factory is not what I imagined. One of my first thoughts was that we now have Trillion Dollar medical companies, and that could be a part of it. However, I missed the big picture.

We have entered an era of the mRNA platform. mRNA is the “live software” that tells our body's internal “factory” (ribosomes) to create a specific antigen. What was once science fiction is now real. This isn't just a new drug; it’s a new pathway to attack disease from the inside out.

In theory, this internal precision should lead to fewer side effects and more personalized care. Perhaps Hippocrates was right: “As to diseases... at least do no harm.” This could be like the oral polio vaccine – lifelong protection and a sugar pill without pain.

In about 530 BC, it was written, “But you, Dani’ĕl, hide the words, and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall diligently search and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4.

Hopefully, readers found this series to be informative and at times worth a chuckle.