Summary
Based on the interview findings from Wuhan First Hospital and the investigation of patients in January and February, we have invited Yan Jingsong, Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Dongfeng General Hospital in Shiyan City, to participate in an interview with our team. This will allow him to address patients' concerns and provide valuable feedback on our project materials.
Different regions exhibit distinct dietary characteristics. Hubei Province encompasses both the dietary habits of the Wuhan metropolitan area and the culinary traits of the western mountainous areas. In order to comprehensively target our project's population, it is imperative to comprehend variations in colitis, diabetes, and hypertension treatment across regions with diverse economic development and medical standards. Following an interview with Wuhan First Hospital in Wuhan City, we compiled feedback from doctors for our team's consideration. Additionally, based on a survey conducted among patients suffering from various illnesses in January and February, we extended an invitation to Yan Jinsong, Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Dongfeng General Hospital in Shiyan City, a region situated in the northwest mountainous area of Hubei Province, to participate in an interview.
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For patients concerned about drug pricing and therapeutic efficacy, we initially inquired with Director Yan regarding the current market prices of mainstream therapeutic drugs. Director Yan indicated that the most affordable drugs for colitis treatment are priced at less than 1 yuan per pill, while sugar control medications start from 50 cents per pill. Most patients opt for drugs ranging between 50 cents and 2 yuan, with the highest-priced option being 6 yuan per pill. Blood pressure medications can cost as little as a few cents each.
Furthermore, we questioned Director Yan about the effectiveness of drug treatments and whether long-term usage leads to resistance development. Yan explained that prolonged use of current drugs used for treating colitis, diabetes, and high blood pressure may somewhat diminish their treatment effects due to patients relying on a single medication for an extended period. For instance, in colitis treatment, commonly employed 5-aminosalicylic acid drugs may disrupt intestinal flora balance when used over an extended duration, thereby affecting drug efficacy. Additionally, it was mentioned that our synbiotic therapies might also encounter this issue. The prevailing approach involves administering multiple different medications simultaneously to patients while adhering to minimum dosage standards in order to effectively manage the disease.
In addition, during our patient interviews, some expressed concerns regarding the potential side effects associated with taking multiple chronic medications simultaneously. In response to this issue, Director Yan explained that when patients take multiple chronic drugs concurrently, there can be various interactions between these medications, both positive and negative in nature. For instance, certain antihypertensive drugs may elevate blood pressure while others may lower blood sugar levels. These interactions have the potential to enhance drug efficacy or exacerbate side effects. To monitor the impact of these drug interactions on the body, our hospital routinely conducts comprehensive examinations of vital organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys. Based on examination results, treatment plans are adjusted accordingly to minimize any adverse effects resulting from drug interactions.
After discussing patients' primary concerns with Director Yan and presenting our team's project proposal for applying microbial technology in the medical field, we sought his expert opinion on its feasibility. Director Yan acknowledged that our concept of synbiotic therapy is highly innovative and at the forefront of biopharmaceutical advancements. He affirmed the viability of our team's project plan and expressed confidence in its broad prospects for success. Additionally, he mentioned several successful cases within his hospital involving treatments such as fecal transplants for intestinal microbial disorders and cancer therapy.
After being briefed on our project, Director Yan provided his insights regarding the enhancement of the mechanism for reducing blood sugar and pressure in our synbiotic therapy, as well as the shortcomings observed during experimentation. He highlighted that many existing hypoglycemic drugs, such as insulin and GLP-1 receptor agonists, are peptide-based medications which often encounter resistance from hydrolases within the body. Consequently, it is imperative to address how we can prevent microorganism-produced polypeptides from undergoing hydrolysis and deactivation once administered internally. Furthermore, Director Yan recommended that we ascertain the specific objectives of our hypoglycemia and blood pressure pursuits - whether they aim to maintain these levels within a stable range or simply reduce them from high values to low values.
Director Yan also put forth additional suggestions concerning the subsequent clinical application of our project. He emphasized that clinical trials typically employ bulk drugs while the final product consists of finished drug formulations containing additives like starch, anti-blocking agents, and antioxidants. It is crucial for us to comprehend the impact of these additives on efficacy while gaining an understanding of peptide molecular biology and bacterial behavior. Moreover, any hypoglycemic and antihypertensive drugs developed through synbiotic therapies must undergo testing for potential systemic cardiac risks in order to comply with national regulations governing cardiovascular medications. Failure to do so may result in rejection during drug audits despite excellent efficacy outcomes thereby impeding subsequent human trial recruitment.
In terms of project safety, Director Yan also cautioned against being exploited by unscrupulous merchants and exaggerating the efficacy. He cited the case of anti-hepatitis B drugs during the SARS period, where deceptive tactics were employed under the guise of new technology to mislead the public. Two decades ago, research primarily focused on hepatitis B, whereas now it encompasses a broad range of fundamental diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. This serves as a warning to prevent unethical merchants from distorting and exploiting technology during research, which could have detrimental effects on public health. Simultaneously, emphasis was placed on biosafety with reference to past incidents like SARS and the recent coronavirus outbreak in order to prioritize biosecurity.
Furthermore, in order to enhance our drug's service attributes and provide greater convenience for patients with colitis, diabetes, and hypertension; we consulted doctors regarding their ideal medication preferences. The medical professionals expressed that an ideal blood pressure medication should be orally administered with minimal frequency – aligning perfectly with our objective of prolonging drug half-life. Although once-a-week antihypertensive medications are currently available, efforts are still underway towards developing oral drugs that can be taken once a week.