Cheaper Drugs

Reported July 2006

ITHACA, N.Y. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) -- As we all know, pharmaceuticals are not cheap. Part of the reason is developing the right formula is a process that can cost over a billion dollars. This biomedical engineer at Cornell University found a way that could revolutionize the way drugs are tested -- and help make them cheaper.

The new body-on-a-chip device mimics the body's reactions. It is lined with human cells and reacts the way organs would when exposed to environmental chemicals or drugs. The yellow dye shows how the body reacts. Biomedical engineer Michael L. Shuler, Ph.D., McCormack Chair for Biomedical Engineering at Cornell, says this surrogate human has many advantages, like lowering the astronomical expense it takes to test a drug.

"Anywhere from $800 million to $1.5 billion. A lot of that cost is not for that particular drug, but for all the other drugs, which were developed in parallel, which don't work," Shuler tells Ivanhoe.

Johnson & Johnson is currently looking at the body on a chip for commercial use. Today, students are using the chip to test drugs to help cancer patients.

Daniel Tatosian, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell, says, "These are cancers that have developed some sort of resistance mechanisms that have allowed them to survive chemotherapy, and they can thrive in the human body."

The results are promising, and the microchip allows for these tests with fewer animal studies.

"Reducing the amount of animals used to test compounds for human benefit is of great importance. It's a humanistic goal, and using our device you can reach that," Tatosian tells Ivanhoe.

With potential to help in the fight for cancer, lead to more effective drug testing, and reduce animal studies, this body-on-a-chip is proving good things do come in small packages.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Department of Biomedical Engineering & Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
(607) 255-1003
biomedeng@cornell.edu

Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is July 4. See how these power-eaters are able to break records.

Explosives ... toxic chemicals ... criminals. When it comes to sniffing out trouble, wasps may be better than dogs.

They may look silly, but these researchers know why we get around by walking and running instead of skipping.

This complete map of dog genes explains why some dogs are playful and others are serious -- and helps identify human diseases, too.

Will La Niņa add fuel to this year's hurricane season?

1.4 million are arrested each year for driving under the influence. This high-tech go-cart may help put the brakes on impaired drivers.

Two scientists believe they've solved a mystery that's defied explanation for more than 400 years.

Predicting when vacation beach pollution will be the worst by looking up at the moon.

What boats, whales and rainfall sound like under the sea.

"Jesus Bugs" inspire this water-walking robot.

The amazing way the body can be tricked into healing a failing heart.

This tiny device could help lower the cost of your prescriptions.