Introduction
This project offers opportunities to implement the knowledge gained from all the major courses taken during the academic years. It incorporates a thorough understanding of the cellular processes, the human endocrine system, and the ability to construct a complex functional system that is safe, ethical, and produces the needed outcomes. It prepares the students to get experience for their future jobs and further education in pursuit of a career in the field of biological and medical research and their application in life. There are several concerns about the manufacturing and economics of the project; however, it is valuable to clients and offers better results than competitors.
Economic Issues
The existing hormonal replacement therapies are considered expensive. The expense per quality-changed life-year QALY for menopausal hormonal treatment MHT use by women after 50 went from $744 to $2,803 US dollars for non-hysterectomized women and $263 to $295 US dollars for hysterectomized women (Velentzis et al.). The yearly expense of $600 per woman that we determined is well inside the current scope of costs for hormonal substitution treatment.
However, given the other related costs that were tended to above, we would expect that the expense would be ten times more than determined. The hypothetical expense each year would then be roughly $6,000 per woman, which is above the range of all the hormone replacement therapy methods shown above. Thus, it is predicted that there are going to be some economic issues, and potential clients might not see the financial advantage of the proposed treatment.
Safety Issues
Significant dangers that encompass bioreactors are openness to unsafe synthetic compounds that are contained in the reactor. Moreover, there are potential risks such as cells and chemicals being exposed to the surroundings. The potential for tainting is consistently a worry when working with live cells. For this reason, the group decided to create a closed bioreactor where each section will be strictly controlled and in a closed system instead of an open system obtainment of hormones. The advantages and dangers of chemical treatment of menopausal indications have not been researched extensively. Thus, there is a lot of doubt regarding the outcomes of such a method.
Manufacturability
To manufacture such a design, we need large concentrations of precursor chemicals, cells, and enzymes to produce the hormones. The reactor should be able to provide a stable environment and comfortable temperature, and continuous inflow of oxygen. Many similar bioreactors produce other types of chemicals, and their manufacture seems to apply to this project.
Marketability
Recognized advantages of hormonal treatment incorporate alleviation of menopausal symptoms. Notwithstanding, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study has uncovered high dangers related to hormonal substitution, including more serious risks for cancer, stroke, and venous thromboembolism (McGarry et al.). The proposed bioreactor can solve the problem of health side-effects as it is the system that guarantees conditions closest to nature possible.
More women will be able to undergo therapy with little to no side effects and reduce the symptoms of menopause, the condition which touches a large part of the population. It decreases the possibility of developing diseases caused by hormonal depletion, including heart disorders and diabetes. Hence, people in their middle age are the wealthiest group among the whole population, and the probability that they will be willing to spend money on the safer method is promising.
Societal Factors
Religious societies are often against intervention with the natural cycle of human hormonal processes. A few concerns about this practice, particularly in the context of menopause as a characteristic flow of biological events in a woman’s body in middle age. Despite this, the suggested bioreactor uses the cells and hormones produced in nature and ensures the system is close to real-world circumstances. Despite religious concerns, it allows many women to go through menopause without complications and suffering.
Works Cited
McGarry, Kelly, et al. “Beyond Estrogen: Treatment Options for Hot Flashes.” Clinical Therapeutics, vol. 40, no. 10, 2018, pp. 1778–1786. Web.
Velentzis, Louiza S., et al. “Menopausal Hormone Therapy: a Systematic Review of Cost-Effectiveness Evaluations.” BMC Health Services Research, vol. 17, no. 1, 2017. Web.