Gene Therapy

Gene therapies: who profits?

It was science fiction that we would be able to intervene in human DNA to cure diseases. But today, gene therapy is a reality. Scientists are able to manufacture and inject a complex machinery of molecules guiding changes to our DNA that can cure very specific cases of blindness, blood disease and even certain types of cancer. If the spectrum of applications is so far narrow, more gene therapies are on the way. Millions in taxpayers’ money was responsible for funding research to mount such an impressive accumulation of scientific knowledge over recent decades and make clinical applications real.
Ideally, the development of a successful gene therapy would bring relief to all those suffering from the disease. But there is one big obstacle to overcome: capitalism. Pharmaceutical and insurance companies fight over the profit from gene therapies. In theory, a single dose would suffice for a complete cure. But, is this a sensible reason to charge hundreds of thousands of dollars for the therapy? Is it aligned with our human values to squabble over the therapy’s price, instead of making sure that every person in need actually benefits from it?
As a response to this commercialization (“profitization”) of publically funded technologies, DiEM25 has developed the Universal Basic Dividend alternative. We have yet to decide on wider health policies: that’s why we need your help. We have a forum and a platform to collectively develop ideas! First step: join us here.
 
Aris is a member and volunteer of the DiEM25 movement.
 

Volete essere informati delle azioni di DiEM25? Registratevi qui!

I Policy Paper di MERA25: MIGRAZIONI

Ecco il nostro Policy Paper sul fenomeno migratorio. Una analisi completa con 14 proposte di modifiche legislative necessarie per risolvere un ...

Leggi di più

Gianluca Costantini illustra il suo viaggio con DiEM25

L'attivista e artista italiano, che da tempo combatte battaglie politiche attraverso disegni che fanno riflettere, ha realizzato ora uno ...

Leggi di più

L’Italia ha bisogno di un’alternativa politica radicale

Negli ultimi anni la politica italiana è polarizzata tra estreme destre populiste e tecnocrazia. Il primo gruppo va dai finti-outsiders senza ...

Leggi di più

Un paese di musichette mentre fuori c’è la morte

Il periodo che stiamo vivendo non è certamente dei più tranquilli, per usare un eufemismo. Crisi finanziarie, seguite da due anni di pandemia ...

Leggi di più