推荐个片子给科学家爱好者看

[Isabella2009]

I Want So Much to Live (2009)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1614992/

Storyline

I WANT SO MUCH TO LIVE explores the pioneering efforts of Genentech and the many individuals who came together to develop Herceptin, the world's first 'targeted therapy' for breast cancer. In this original documentary, award-winning filmmaker Elizabeth Holder presents a rarely seen portrait of drug development. From early scientific discoveries in the lab to testing the drug in patients, this film captures the emotional and compelling story of what it took personally and professionally to advance the project from scientific curiosity to lifesaving medicine.

A nice review: http://motherswithcancer.wordpress.com/ ... h-to-live/

I was lucky enough to see this new documentary at The Boston Film Festival this week called “I Want So Much to LIve”. It is a beautifully done film about the invention of Herceptin. This short film highlighted the young scientists of Genentech who made it their mission and passion to get this drug perfected and approved. It was these young kids in California who figured out that something was odd in the breast cancer world; they wanted to know why after treatment some survived and some didn’t. They figured out that 20% of all breast cancers were fed by the her2 protein and then went about finding an antibody for it.

As I was diagnosed to be her2/neu positive in 2007– 4 years after Herceptin was approved– I was lucky enough to receive this drug. The story touches on the women who were not so lucky, who wrote letters pleading with the drug companies to let them have this new drug that was available. The film explained the clinical trial process and how a drug gets pushed through the FDA–giving us both sides to the story and showing how there was no real ‘bad guy’ because everyone was working toward the same goal–finding a safe and effective drug against breast cancer.

What struck me most about this documentary was the unbelievable commitment of these scientists to prove that Herceptin was worth the companies time, money and effort. They knew in their hearts that this was an important step in helping to cure cancer, and they would not take ‘no’ for an answer. It also amazed me that it was only in 2003 that this drug finally became approved, and that had it not, I would be in a very different situation right now.

You should definitely see this film if it comes to any of your cities. It made me feel like all the walks, runs,and bike rides we do to raise money for research against all cancers is actually doing something.

YouTube clip: Interview with the director
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QTWvmbKzcE

[Jun]

这是公司给自己拍的宣传片，即广告。

[Isabella2009]

Yes Genentech requested the making of the documentary to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Herceptin's first approval in metastatic breast cancer. But the movie was made from not just the company's point of view, but also physicians', FDA's and patients'. All in all, an inspirational and educational documentary, especially for those who're in the business of basic and clinical research. After all, it really means something to be at the cutting edgy of research, even though most of us suffer from the day to day feeling of failure and useless.

[Jun]

谁出钱谁说了算。如果需要，中国政府一样可以找到无数＂局外人＂发誓天朝无比英明无比正确。

FDA 刚跟 Genentech 打了一架，即使没打也决不会当众地官方地替私营药厂做广告。

为了避免惹麻烦，我就不再讨论Genentech和FDA的恩怨了。

[Isabella2009]

Take a look before drawing any conclusion.
If it has to be defined as propaganda, then the movie is a propaganda for cancer research, which is a good thing in my opinion.

[Isabella2009]

And the fact that FDA and Genentech have conflicts now does not mean that Herceptin's approval was wrong or that the drug didn't benefit thousands of patients.

[Isabella2009]

The reasons that I can't stop bragging about this movie: first it's an educational documentary for the whole process from identifying a gene to clinical trial to FDA approval; second it's an inspirational one for those who are in the field of research--I myself worked harder on my project after watching the movie; and third it's an eye candy for those who just love watching smart scientists boasted of their success!

[tiffany]

seriously, 80% of research is bs，you know it, I know it. I do what I do, mostly to satisfy my curiosity, don't pretend to make contribution to the greater good or whatever. If you need inspiration to work hard on your project, you probably should get a better project, or a more fitting career.

[Isabella2009]

seriously, 80% of research is bs，you know it, I know it. I do what I do, mostly to satisfy my curiosity, don't pretend to make contribution to the greater good or whatever. If you need inspiration to work hard on your project, you probably should get a better project, or a more fitting career.

Did I say I didn't work hard before watching the movie?

[tiffany]

I found it ridiculous that any scientist with some self respect would be affected by a movie in terms of enthusiasm. Besides, it is science research, working harder won't work as effective as thinking harder, of course 'hard' here is the wrong adj, we'd actually go for clear. But that is of course not the point.

[Isabella2009]

Do you also found it ridiculous that a self-respect scientist can be inspired by Einstein, or Newton, or any other success story? There's no need for overgeneralization or stereotyping. I'm inspired by the movie. So? Is there anything I should be ashamed of? I think not.

[dropby]

宣传片吧，当然要拍得能感人能煽动人能让人百分之百信了，可能的话。所以呢，谢谢，有时间也不看。

[tiffany]

yeah, I do find it ridiculous to be inspired by 'success stories'. They are entirely too wholesome to stomach.

anyway, whatever works works, I guess.

[Isabella2009]

Yep, just like a cup of good coffee to me.

[tiffany]

you do realize coffee is not for everyone. and that you flavor is really very very personal.

[Isabella2009]

Fortune magazine feature: Inside Pfizer's palace coup

http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2 ... r-shakeup/

讲的是Pfizer前CEO Jeff Kindler去年年底突然被逐的事儿，果汁四溅。这个故事，和我昨天推荐的Genentech 推出抗癌新药的纪录片（或者说宣传片）放一起看很有意思。并不是说Genentech是好的Pfizer是坏的，或者是说制药厂里搞R＆D的是好的搞管理的是坏的， （好吧有这么点儿意思哈哈哈），从这两面看制药业的现状还是很有启发的。话说回来，做为一个在制药业里搞R＆D的螺丝钉，能看到患者受益，到底是件励志的事儿。

[Isabella2009]

Jeff Kindler把当律师的那一套思路用来管理企业，优柔寡断，管头管脚不肯放权，脾气爆燥，宠信所有其他人都反感的HR头头，他要做得好才怪呢。

Pfizer的研发在业界内名声一向不好，他们的长处是营销。

不过Pfizer今年有个治疗肺癌的药前景很好，FDA批准的可能性很大，可惜这功劳算不到Jeff Kindler身上了。

我讲讲这个肺癌新药的故事吧。细胞表面有一种穿过细胞膜的蛋白，叫做Receptor Tyrosine Kinase, 简称RTK，这种蛋白往往是生长因子的受体，激活了就能让细胞分裂生长。不少癌症细胞在这类RTK蛋白上有突变，获得了不受控制分裂生长的能力。专门抑制这种RTK蛋白活性的药，就有可能抑制这一类癌症细胞的生长。我昨天贴的纪录片里，讲的就是一个抑制RTK蛋白（Her－２）的抗体怎么被研发出来治疗Her－２阳性的乳腺癌的。

Pfizer的新药Crizotinib是一个抑制RTK活性的小分子化学合成物。它被研发出来抑制另一个RTK蛋白（c－Met) 的活性。这些小分子吧，和抗体不一样。抗体特别专一，就认自己那个目标，小分子往往除了最先设计的那个目标，还会抑制不少其它蛋白的活性。一般来说，这不是好事儿，会产生副作用，但也有例外， 比如Crizotinib。这个分子除了抑制自己的目标c-Met，还抑制另一个RTK蛋白，叫做ALK的。Crizotinib的临床实验一开始很不成功，不知道为什么抑制c－Met没有得到预想的结果。２００７年在肺癌病人肿瘤样品里测序，发现有５％的病人在ALK基因位点上有突变，ALK蛋白在这些病人身上获得了刺激癌症细胞生长的能力。Pfizer马上掉转船头，调整临床实验的设计，挑出ALK突变的病人治疗，效果非常好，今年内大概会被批准。

Jeff Kindler０６年上任，ALK基因突变０７年发现，这个药通过，他是有点儿功劳的。不过抗癌药呢，受众小，５％的肺癌病人，就是五万多个病人。Crizotinib最后应该也能卖一个billion一年，但不象Lipitor是降胆固醇的，一年能卖十几个billion，所以Pfizer的好日子还是一去不回了。

[Isabella2009]

更新一下，Pfizer的抗癌新药八月二十六日通过了。

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 06326.html

Crizotinib will cost $9,600 a month, though Pfizer says it is offering co-pay assistance that will reduce the out-of-pocket costs for eligible, private-insured patients to no more than $100 a month.