Will the coming year bring more substantive change to what remains of the ACA? Will the level of M&A slow down or pick-up speed again?
Will the market see more disruptors, either well-funded start-ups or companies from other industries that believe they can take a significant bite out of the health care market?
Will behavioral health care be a stakeholder in acute health care? Will preventative care begin to reduce health care costs?
Look for more effective preventative care after AI is able to identify consumers likely to contract a specific disease. Data mining is entering a new phase as hospitals accelerate their effort to harness the power of AI to move preventative care front and center.
We know that change often is governed by what fits the norm versus “what if”?
President Trump and industry leaders have embraced a Moon Shot effort to eliminate cancer. We expect this to include different types of theories put forth by researchers who are unafraid to challenge the status quo.
Researchers are accelerating their effort to deconstruct how cancer stem cells prevent our P53 gene from provoking an immune system response that suppresses tumors. Much of the new research to defeat cancer is invested in solving this.
The NIH and FDA have authorized trials for new drugs to defeat different types of cancer, taking the next step with human trials to determine what works.
As an example, one group of researchers is investigating whether a natural adjuvant to a cancer-fighting drug can mitigate its debilitating side effects while strengthening its effectiveness.
D-Mannose slowed the release of glucose only to cancer cells in an animal trial when placed in the drinking water for a control group, thereby extending life. It also intensified the strength and efficacy of two different chemo drugs while reducing their side effects.
The researchers will now conduct human trials pairing D-Mannose with chemo drugs to attack pancreatic, lung, and bowel cancer.
Fortunately, we have geometric thinkers young and seasoned who are attacking the conundrum of cancer by asking that one question, “what if”!
Jonathan Gehris