Respiratory System

The respiratory system is vital in keeping us alive and without it we would have no way to supply our body with oxygen, exchange gases in and out of our body, or produce ATP, which fuels our energy. Premature babies are born before full development is achieved so they tend to suffer from respiratory distress syndrome. RDS is potentially fatal in newborns because the lungs in the newborns do not have enough surfactant. “Surfactant reduces the alveoli’s tendency to collapse, especially when lung volumes are low, and makes it easier for inspiratory efforts to inflate the alveoli.” (Holes, pg.744) Without the surfactant, the lungs begin to collapse causing breathing problems and at times death.

The FDA approved a drug called Surfaxin in 2012 although it had been denied the three years before. Andrew Pollack stated, “Surfaxin is a surfactant, a liquid that coats the air sacs in the lungs and helps keep them open.” (2012) Besides being a drug that will save lives, it also is going to make a lot of money when treating around 90,000 premature babies each year in the United States alone. Annual sales of Surfaxin will range anywhere between 50 to 90 million dollars a year. Although the article did not stated why the FDA denied the drug, it is great news that the drug is now on the market to help premature babies live. It is always so great to hear of drugs that can help make a difference. It shows that funding for research is so important, because it can be the difference between life or death for many ill patients.

I work in a dental office so I cannot directly relate to this drug but being in the medical field I can relate to the fact that research is very important. In the dental office there are many different types of drugs that are given to make treatment successful. Without the use of antibiotics, abscessed teeth would fail to heal and clear infection. With infection in your jawbone, it can spread and cause you to lose a lot of bone. Once bone is lost it is...