Science in Seconds - Next Generation Medicine

Science in Seconds Know Everything RAVES - Next Generation Medicine Rheanna Sand: We're all used to the litany of side effects that come with pharmaceuticals. "Are you shy? Ask your doctor about Shylex!" (Side-effects may include bad breath, anal leakage, and shyness.) Well, side effects might be on the way out, at least for some treatments, with the use of aptamers, an advancement that some are calling next-generation medicines. Aptamers are small strands of DNA, RNA, or protein with a very particular shape and character. They're not drugs themselves; they're a delivery system. They seek out diseased cells, viruses, and bacteria, and bind tightly at extremely low doses. Traditional drugs are tethered to them and are released at the target site, not floating aimlessly around your body causing unfortunate side effects. Aptamers have other benefits, too. They're too small for your body to reject them, they don't stick around too long in your bloodstream, and don't require the use of lab animals. There's at least one FDA-approved aptamer-based drug currently on the market, called Macugen, that treats Macular Degeneration. Other researchers have found aptamers to fight Anthrax, the deadly virus used in bio-terrorist attacks. So, while aptamers could free us from the inconvenience of side effects, given enough time and research, they might also free us from illness itself. Courtesy of Science in Seconds – All rights reserved Only for educational/non-profit purposes. (Translators are invited to put their name here)