Name: We need better drugs -- now
Uploaded: 2013-03-21T15:01:33Z
Duration: 14 min 23 s
Description: Today we know the molecular cause of 4,000 diseases, but treatments are available for only 250 of them. So what's taking so long? Geneticist and physician Francis Collins explains why systematic drug discovery is imperative, even for rare and complex diseases, and offers a few solutions -- like teaching old drugs new tricks.

Today we know the molecular cause of 4,000 diseases, but treatments are available for only 250 of them. So what's taking so long? Geneticist and physician Francis Collins explains why systematic drug discovery is imperative, even for rare and complex diseases, and offers a few solutions -- like teaching old drugs new tricks.

Francis Collins: We need better drugs -- now

We need better drugs -- now

Discovering the molecular basis of 4,000 diseases yet treatments exist for only 250, spotlighting the vast medical innovation gap.

The journey from genetic discovery to drug development, like CF's breakthrough, illustrates the complex path of medical advancements.

Leveraging human genome insights and 'old drugs, new tricks' could revolutionize treatment, potentially curing thousands of diseases.