Race in a Bottle

For many years, we have known that congestive heart Disease is more common in African-Americans than in whites, but in was not Until June of 2003 that there was a drug specifically for decreasing these numbers. BiDil is the first approved ethnic drug by the FDA. Its purpose is to treat congestive heart-failure in African-Americans. However, this drug may not be what it seems. BiDil is actually composed of two generic drugs called hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate. The interesting thing is that these drugs have been used since the 90’s to treat heart failure.
In 1987 Jay Cohn, a cardiologist, understood how great these two drugs worked together to treat heart disease, in all races. Cohn quickly asked for a patent (right of the government to sell a product or manufacture) and when he received it, sold the drug to Medco. Through Medco, BiDil was created. Unfortunately, the FDA rejected the drug and Medco sold the rights back to Cohn. However, Cohn went back to the FDA and made a case for BiDil. He said that the drug worked very effectively and enrolled it in the V-HeFT (Vasodilator Heart Failure Trial) studies. After this, Cohn reapplied for another patent and got it, only this time, the drug was labeled as an ethnic drug. This time, Cohn sold the drug to NitroMed. When they conducted a trial, the death toll of 43 percent of the African Americans was lower than those who took a placebo. Soon after, the FDA approved BiDil. It was the first time a Drug had ever been labeled according to race.
Although the drug is labeled for a particular race, many have said that it is not. Even Cohn himself has said that the drug is meant for all races. It is clear that the reason behind this ethnic label is money. If BiDil had been approved for all races then the FDA would have put a restriction on the drug meaning it could only be sold by 2007, but since the drug was race specific, it can be sold until 2013. If the drug is sold longer, then it means more money for those who are selling it.
Another issue is that many insurance companies are reluctant to insure BiDil because of its high cost (six times the cost over the generic drug) and other non-African-American patients may not buy it because of its label as a race drug. However, the biggest problem is this- the FDA’s reason for approving this drug for those of color was because it was tested by an African American population. However, most drugs are tested in “white” populations yet we do not call these drugs “white” drugs. The drugs tested in these populations are assumed to be good for all people, but the drugs tested in the African American population are only for that race. It seems as if the FDA is trying to say that African Americans are less representative of society as a whole. Is this the type of message we want to keep being sent?
Regardless of this, many other companies are still attempting race specific drugs. In 2003, a company tried to propose a new AIDS vaccine called AIDSVAX. This vaccine was supposed to be specific in African Americans and Asians but there were very few hundred of these races that were involved in the study which could have messed up the results.
These “race” drugs could be made by those who want to make a difference, but the problem is that they are run by a commercial company. Drugs, such as BiDil, are greatly wanted by companies not to make a difference, but instead to make a profit. Before the FDA approves any more drugs such as BiDil, they should evaluate the motives and basis for these types of drugs. This simple act could be the step that the medical world needs take to grow and help those who need it the most.



My Response:

I thought that this article was very eye-opening. I always thought about whether these so called "race" drugs were actually real. It is very interesting to see how BiDil is made of the same things as two generic drugs. Also it was interesting that the person who invented BiDil, Jay Cohn, meant the drug to be used by all races. I think that these facts show how corrupt our society is. When the companies label a drug for certain races, even though it may be for everyone, they could be causing more harm. First the people who need the drug may not take it because of its label and others might not take it because of is cost. It is unfortunate that the corruption of the medical companies has gone so low that it is willing to dabble with peoples lives.




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