Connect with us

Health

Johnson & Johnson Projects Aim to Spot Who’ll Get a Disease

Published

on

In this Oct. 10, 2008, file photo, Johnson & Johnson products are shown in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

In this Oct. 10, 2008, file photo, Johnson & Johnson products are shown in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Imagine being able to identify who is likely to develop a particular disease — and then stop the disorder before it starts.

That’s the goal of three research projects launched by Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical research arm, Janssen Research & Development. The projects, announced Thursday, aim to prevent illnesses — particularly ones related to aging and lifestyle — including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease and Type 1 diabetes.

“A hundred years from now, someone’s going to look back on us and say, ‘Can you believe they waited until you got a disease and then did something?'” Dr. William Hait, head of Janssen research and development, said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The scope of the effort is a first for a major drug company. There are a few small-scale projects by groups of scientists or small technology companies collecting genetic data or blood samples from patients to learn more about diseases and develop new therapies, in one case for possible preventive treatments.

But since the 1800s, big drugmakers have focused on making medicines to treat or cure illnesses. The move by Johnson & Johnson, the world’s biggest maker of health care products, is possible because of recent, huge advances in genetics and other science. Meanwhile, some preventive treatments for widespread illnesses have become routine in developed countries. Think: blood testing and use of cholesterol-lowering statin pills to prevent heart attacks and strokes in at-risk patients, or colonoscopies and removal of any polyps to prevent colon cancer.

Billions of research dollars will be needed to accomplish Johnson & Johnson’s goals, and it could easily take a generation, cautions analyst Steve Brozak, president of WBB Securities. But Brozak said Johnson & Johnson is one of a few organizations that have the resources — money and scientific talent — to succeed at what he called a shift to “true modern medicine” that’s as revolutionary as Henry Ford creating the manufacturing assembly line.

Johnson & Johnson, which is based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, has nearly 10,000 scientists and other employees at Janssen alone, plus four “innovation centers” collaborating with university researchers. And it’s got plenty of money, with a $16 billion profit last year. It’s also a leading maker of diagnostic tests, plus vaccines, surgical equipment, prescription pills, injected biologic medicines and consumer health products.

The company’s three new research programs have varying approaches:

—The Janssen Prevention Center, which began operating on Jan. 1, will focus on preventing some conditions that most burden the elderly — and health care systems paying for their care. Those include Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease. The center will build on the company’s expertise in vaccines.

—The Janssen Human Microbiome Institute will study the microbiome, bacteria living in and on the body recently found to have a key role in our health. Learning more could help in creating treatments for autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disorders, many of which lack good treatments.

—The Disease Interception Accelerator, which is just beginning in Raritan, New Jersey, will explore genetic defects and other causes of diseases so they can be detected and stopped or inhibited long before symptoms set in.

For the accelerator’s first program, Janssen is partnering with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to find ways to prevent Type 1 diabetes, a complex, expensive immune disorder that can cause blindness, amputations and premature death. It involves the immune system steadily destroying beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which is needed to help convert blood sugar into energy.

National screening programs in the U.S. and Germany are working to find youngsters at high risk of developing Type 1 diabetes, and multiple patient studies are under way here to try to “rebalance” overly aggressive immune systems to stop them from attacking beta cells, said Dr. Richard Insel, the foundation’s chief scientific officer. One gives participants tiny doses of insulin by mouth and another is trying a rheumatoid arthritis drug to tamp down the immune system.

The foundation and Janssen now are planning specific research projects that can build on that work and other findings to prevent diabetes early on, Insel said.

“Decades ago, we never would have been thinking about prevention of this disease,” he said. “We’re in a very different position today.”

___

Follow Linda A. Johnson https://twitter.com/lindaj_onpharma

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

on

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

Continue Reading

California Black Media

Gen. Election Update: Tracking Your Votes on Ballot Propositions — and What They Mean for Our Communities

In the Nov. 5 General Election, Californians cast their votes on ten propositions addressing issues from education and climate funding to prison labor and the minimum wage.

Published

on

By Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media

In the Nov. 5 General Election, Californians cast their votes on ten propositions addressing issues from education and climate funding to prison labor and the minimum wage.

Below is a breakdown of the propositions, their potential impact and an update on how we voted on them.

Likely to Pass:

Proposition 2: Bonds for Public School and College Facilities
With 56.7% support, Prop 2 is on track to pass. This measure would allocate $10 billion to repair and upgrade K-12 and community college facilities, especially in under-resourced schools. For students, this funding could lead to safer and more supportive learning environments.

Proposition 3: Constitutional Right to Marriage
Prop 3 currently has 61.4% support and is likely to pass. This measure aims to amend California’s constitution to affirm marriage rights for all. For LGBTQ+ individuals in our communities, this is a powerful affirmation of equality and inclusion.

Proposition 4: Bonds for Water, Wildfire, and Climate Risks
Currently passing with 57.8%, Prop 4 is on track to deliver $10 billion for projects that address water quality, wildfire prevention, and climate resilience. This could have a significant impact on communities that face the harshest effects of climate change.

Proposition 34: Restricts Spending of Prescription Revenues
Prop 34 is narrowly passing with 51.4% support, indicating that it may succeed. The measure would require specific healthcare providers to use 98% of revenue from federal drug discount programs on direct patient care. This could improve healthcare access for low-income residents.

Proposition 35: Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal
With 66.8% of voters in favor, Prop 35 is on course to pass, securing permanent funding for Medi-Cal, California’s low-income healthcare program. For many in our communities who depend on Medi-Cal, this measure promises stability and continued access to essential healthcare services.

Proposition 36: Increased Sentencing for Certain Drug and Theft Crimes
With strong support at 70.5%, Prop 36 is poised to pass, increasing penalties for specific theft and drug offenses. This measure would partially roll back sentence reductions established by Prop 47, sparking concerns about potential increases in incarceration rates.

Likely to Fail:

Proposition 5: Bonds for Affordable Housing and Infrastructure
With 56.4% of voters opposed, Prop 5 is likely to fail. The measure aimed to reduce the voting threshold for local bonds from two-thirds to 55%, making it easier to fund affordable housing. Without it, local governments will continue to face higher approval requirements, potentially slowing progress on affordable housing solutions.

Proposition 6: Eliminates Forcing Inmates to Work
Currently failing with 54.9% opposed, Prop 6 is expected to be defeated. This measure would have ended involuntary labor for incarcerated individuals, a practice critics argue disproportionately affects Black inmates. It’s likely failure means the prison labor system will remain unchanged.

Proposition 32: Raises Minimum Wage
With 52.1% of voters opposing it, Prop 32 appears likely to fail. This measure would have raised the minimum wage to $18 an hour. While proponents argued it would provide greater financial stability for low-wage workers.

Proposition 33: Local Government Residential Rent Control
With 61.9% voting “no,” Prop 33 is expected to fail, meaning that local governments won’t gain expanded authority to enact rent control. Real estate groups argued that this measure could hinder housing development. Its failure means that current rent control laws will remain in place, leaving fewer protections for renters.

Continue Reading

California Black Media

Covered California Open Enrollment Began Nov. 1

Open enrollment for Covered California kicked off on Nov. 1, 2024, offering individuals, families, and businesses a chance to secure quality, affordable health insurance for the upcoming year. This annual enrollment period allows California residents to choose from a variety of health plans that meet their specific needs. Covered California offers comprehensive coverage, including preventive care and financial assistance to help eligible applicants lower their monthly premiums.

Published

on

iStock
iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Open enrollment for Covered California kicked off on Nov. 1, 2024, offering individuals, families, and businesses a chance to secure quality, affordable health insurance for the upcoming year. This annual enrollment period allows California residents to choose from a variety of health plans that meet their specific needs.

Covered California offers comprehensive coverage, including preventive care and financial assistance to help eligible applicants lower their monthly premiums. The program features insurance plans from leading providers, ensuring access to essential health services such as doctor visits, hospital care, and mental health services.

This year, notable updates include expanded financial assistance, which increases the support available for eligible households to help offset monthly costs. Additionally, consumers will find greater plan flexibility, allowing them to select options that fit their lifestyles and budgets. Access to no-cost preventive services — like vaccinations, screenings, and annual check-ups — remains a priority.

Key enrollment deadlines are set as follows:

  • The open enrollment period runs from Nov. 1, 2024, to Jan. 31, 2025.
  • Those who enroll by Dec. 15, 2024, will have their coverage start on Jan. 1, 2025.

To facilitate enrollment, applicants can fill out an inquiry form on the Covered California website, reach out to Certified Enrollment Counselors, or contact Covered California directly at (888) 234-5366 or via email at GetCovered@cbhn.info.

The California Black Health Network (CBHN) collaborates with Covered California to advocate for health equity, focusing on underserved communities, including unemployed and gig workers. CBHN’s certified enrollers engage in outreach and onsite signups to help individuals access affordable healthcare options.

Continue Reading

Subscribe to receive news and updates from the Oakland Post

* indicates required

CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE OAKLAND POST

ADVERTISEMENT

WORK FROM HOME

Home-based business with potential monthly income of $10K+ per month. A proven training system and website provided to maximize business effectiveness. Perfect job to earn side and primary income. Contact Lynne for more details: Lynne4npusa@gmail.com 800-334-0540

Facebook

Trending

Copyright ©2021 Post News Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.