QUICK TAKES

Panama Engaged In Cutting Edge
Biological Drug Research

By Will Irvine

Panama has long been recognized for its inmense biodiversity, both in plant and animal species, concentrated in a relatively small space.  Add this to the fact that many drugs in use today for medical purposes originate from substances found in nature and you can understand why Panama could easily become a huge natural pharmacy.   To take sustainable advantage of the

opportunity presented by Panama´s geographical position and rich biodiversity, in 2002 the National Secretary´s Office for Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT, the acronym in Spanish) created the Institute of Advanced Scientific Investigations and Technology Services-A Public Interest Association (INDICASAT-AIP, the acronym in Spanish) as a biomedical research institute.  As such its mission is to produce quality scientific products which will have an impact on the social, economic and cultural development of Panama. 
 
Currently INDICASAT collaborates quite closely with institutions in Panama such as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the Gorgas Institute and the University of Panama in bioprospecting and research to identify cures for multiple diseases within Panama´s tropical forest and seas.  INDICASAT is located in the City of Knowledge in Clayton in Panama City. 
 
One of the most promising projects being carried out by INDICASAT is an alternative treatment for malaria through the use of microwaves.   This is interesting because it would lower the cost and the risk of treatment as the malaria patient would not have to take any medication.  Medication which in fact has very strong side effects.  The possibility of this kind of treatment is so attractive due to its global implications that the proposal was awarded a $100,000.00 grant by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in October of this year.  Malaria affects approximately 1 million people a year. 
 
Another bioassay being carried out by INDICASAT has turned up an alkaloid compound obtained from the Panamanian plant called Guatteria that may be able to kill the leishmaniasis parasite.  Leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in 90 countries that is estimated to affect approximately 2 million people a year.   In addition to this other bioassays have discovered leaves and corals with compounds that may be actived against Chagas disease and cancer.
 
Although Panama provides a wealth of material to study and test; the actual process of developing drugs is very long, costly and time consuming.  INDICASAT´s role in this process is to conduct tests called bioassays in order to find chemical compounds in biological sources that may be active against diseases.  Research continues and maybe in the future drugs used to treat cancer will be grown or harvested in Panama´s back yard.
 
 

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