Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Medical Discoveries Are Crucial! New technologies and ever-running science develop plenty of diagnostic testing and identify new medical conditions, often considered unknown. Many of those conditions were described before based on symptoms but we did not know their origin and etiology. Now, more and more of them connect with immune system and genetics, not only inherited from parents to offsprings but often mutated due to independent behavior of each organism. Knowing the original source of where a certain disease comes from allows us to map an algorithm and assist in developing medications that can help fight the diseases. What I am saying sounds easy because it is simplified in my words. In reality, these processes take years, many pre- clinical and clinical trials, and often many failures. One failed approach may not discourage attempting again to target the same cause. Scientists must be the most patient creatures on the planet! They must move over and over the same pattern of research and identify their own errors to finally come up with the right solution. Twenty years ago, we knew very little about psoriasis or eczema. Today, we not only have great biologics targeting narrow paths of these disorders, but now, science is in the process of developing oral equivalents and substitutes for biologics. In several years, with hopefully pricing going down, there will be no reason for anybody to suffer from psoriasis. Injections, pills, non-steroidal creams, all of these have been developed in recent years and any patient can be easily matched with an optimal treatment, according to their medical history and severity of the disease. Unfortunately, not all areas of medical intervention receive equal attention. More and more, medical doctors discuss the lack of new generation antibiotics and fungal medicines. Smart bacteria and fungi learned how to get us tricked and develop resistance to the current treatments. Many antibiotics no longer work to fight infections. Populations of geriatric patients, with lower and weaker immune system are more prone to develop those infections and more resistant to treatments available. The same problem is often encountered with small children and babies, as some medical treatments are not approved for them. Conducting clinical trials on older patients and small children is extremely challenging and thus, we lack proper evidence to show the safety and efficacy of the new drugs. Regardless of which part of the world we live in, clinical studies are the only way to collect proper data showing that the new medicines are safe and helpful. European Union Agency, FDA, or other regulatory agencies work closely together sharing valuable information in order to make drugs available world-wide. We often complain about over-regulations and blame those agencies for slowing the processes of new drug development, but truly, they really have a difficult job to do: under-regulations that may cause harm to patients. Selecting the correct path and process is not easy, especially if not enough data is present. And we do need new, better, and safer drugs. This is why we need to become a part of the process: learn as much as possible, participate in studies and educate others to do the same. We love sharing information with our patients. Please, remember that becoming a part of research or getting information about it is free of any charge. Please, take advantage of it. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Medical Discoveries Are Crucial ! New technologies and ever - running science develop plenty of diagnostic testing and identify new medical conditions , often considered unknown . Many of those conditions were described before based on symptoms but we did not know their origin and etiology . Now , more and more of them connect with immune system and genetics , not only inherited from parents to offsprings but often mutated due to independent behavior of each organism . Knowing the original source of where a certain disease comes from allows us to map an algorithm and assist in developing medications that can help fight the diseases . What I am saying sounds easy because it is simplified in my words . In reality , these processes take years , many pre- clinical and clinical trials , and often many failures . One failed approach may not discourage attempting again to target the same cause . Scientists must be the most patient creatures on the planet ! They must move over and over the same pattern of research and identify their own errors to finally come up with the right solution . Twenty years ago , we knew very little about psoriasis or eczema . Today , we not only have great biologics targeting narrow paths of these disorders , but now , science is in the process of developing oral equivalents and substitutes for biologics . In several years , with hopefully pricing going down , there will be no reason for anybody to suffer from psoriasis . Injections , pills , non - steroidal creams , all of these have been developed in recent years and any patient can be easily matched with an optimal treatment , according to their medical history and severity of the disease . Unfortunately , not all areas of medical intervention receive equal attention . More and more , medical doctors discuss the lack of new generation antibiotics and fungal medicines . Smart bacteria and fungi learned how to get us tricked and develop resistance to the current treatments . Many antibiotics no longer work to fight infections . Populations of geriatric patients , with lower and weaker immune system are more prone to develop those infections and more resistant to treatments available . The same problem is often encountered with small children and babies , as some medical treatments are not approved for them . Conducting clinical trials on older patients and small children is extremely challenging and thus , we lack proper evidence to show the safety and efficacy of the new drugs . Regardless of which part of the world we live in , clinical studies are the only way to collect proper data showing that the new medicines are safe and helpful . European Union Agency , FDA , or other regulatory agencies work closely together sharing valuable information in order to make drugs available world - wide . We often complain about over - regulations and blame those agencies for slowing the processes of new drug development , but truly , they really have a difficult job to do : under - regulations that may cause harm to patients . Selecting the correct path and process is not easy , especially if not enough data is present . And we do need new , better , and safer drugs . This is why we need to become a part of the process : learn as much as possible , participate in studies and educate others to do the same . We love sharing information with our patients . Please , remember that becoming a part of research or getting information about it is free of any charge . Please , take advantage of it . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net