that is a biomarker. 50 years ago, maybe we had a couple of dozen biomarkers.ut because of advances in genetic science and all things we are learning about how different genes in our body regulate and produce different proteins which regulate cellular processes, biochemical processes we on the verge of having , hundreds of thousands of these kind of lab tests were biomarkers. they can help us determine many things. they can help us advance more quickly drugs to market that affect certain lab tests or biomarkers. they can help us design clinical trials. for example, there are many people with lung cancer, but it is not all the same. different people have different kinds. it might be responsive to different treatments. the fda and drug companies are trying to figure out how to tailor their investigation into the individual patient and the individual patient's clinical and biochemical and genetic position. these are the kinds of things that are going on scientifically in the world in the private sector. the question is, is the fda doing what it can do to take this

. >> reporter: for some men this new tool is a welcome change that measures four different biomarkersate to help the man and urologist make a better decision about the next step. >> i think it will help a lot more men deal with the subject as opposed to just avoiding it completely. >> the reduction in the number of biopsies performed could also save the u.s. healthcare system a plot of money. dr. perick said it could potentially add up to $1 billion. >>> big pharma is about to get even bigger. guys are and -- bigger. dublin based allergan could merge with pfizer. >>> ben tracy reports the coming el nino is shaping up to be something we've never seen. >> reporter: it's already a winter wonderland in california's mountains and they're expecting a lot more snow. scientists say a massive el nino in the pacific is still getting stronger. these warm association waters near the equator forced the jet stream that usually dumps rain on central america north bringing a conveyor belt of storms to central america and the southern u.s. >> this has surpassed the biggest el nino on record. >> report

are looking at different types of lesion we find on ct scan more severe versus lessee veer and the biomarker actually is elevated in the injuries that are severe. >> reporter: one would analyze a drop of blood to diagnose a concussion on the spot. >> the idea is to get a point to help the coaches and the trainers and athletic directors make a decision about whether the child should go back to play. >> reporter: whenever there is tissue damage, as in a heart attack or concussion, injured cells release compounds that blood tests. and being able to use this right on the field would be a major plus, because going back into a game with a concussion can be very dangerous. that is what they are working toward, being able to do it on the sidelines. >> thank you dr. max. >>> results of a landmark new study could lead to life saving guidelines. the national institute of health suggests reducing the top blood pressure number to 120 and below. this is especially for patients over 50 who are at risk for heart disease, compared to the current guideline recommending that top number be under 140. the doctor

a minute. 91% of the drugs would be targeted versus hormonal, radiati radiation. 33% would have biomarkers so we're moving in the direction that you'll be able to make sure that cancer drug is going to work on the person before you and it's 33% in 2020. these will be rare disease cancer drugs. when you look at hepatitis c, this is worldwide, this will show you the treatment pattern of what we've seen and what we expect from 2011 to 2020. and the green you see is growing and the blue is growing as well. so the function is we are now treating six times more hepatitis c patients in the united states from what we were doing six years ago. now i have a couple other thoughts that one of the things we're now in the era of is the first one was launched last month in september -- actually in september is a biosimilar version. just this week the fda has accepted a biosimilar application on the next generation which is called nulasta. so the biosimilar marketplace in the united states has finally started. it's been well established since 2007 in europe. this is finally starting here in the united sta

the hope is to find a biomarker that can jump-start a diagnostic test, treatment or cure. >>> how much cost to raise a child? some drug companies may be forced to find out. more than 100 women are suing for what you might call wrongful life. they say a birth control packaging error led to unplanned pregnancies. the women filed a class action lawsuit in pennsylvania against a pharmaceutical company. they are seeking millions of dollars in damages in some cases the cost of raising a child into adulthood. >>> after days of unrest, michael middleton a long time professor retired in august after 17 years as deputy chancellor. he will league the four campus university system until a permanent replacement is found. >>> tim wolfe resigned on monday after students protested about the way the university of missouri handled racial complaints. students who pushed for him to step down are operations the school's decision to bring on middleton. he will be the second black president of the university of missouri system. >>> still ahead, the republican presidential candidates at odds over immigration.

we're focused on the use of biomarkers, surrogate end points and also not using them inappropriately when they're not going to work. this is hard work to set the conditions that would excite investors to put money into biomedical science. ultimately the united states is saving the world through investment in the n.i.h. i want to put in a plug for continuing with the n.i.h. investment. if not for the science funded through the n.i.h. we wouldn't have the basic science to translate into medical products. >> thank you four your testimony. >> i want to thank senator mikulski who left the hearing. senator casey for allowing senator sanders to go next. he has been waiting patiently and has ex tra curric lar activities he is attending to. >> thank you. you and i chatted a while back. and i told you that i would not support your nomination because i believed you are not strong enough on the most important issue that the american people are concerned about with regard to prescription drugs. and that is, as you know, in our country we pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescripti

we are focused on the use of biomarkers. surrogate imputs. not using them inappropriately when they're not going to work. this is really hard work to set the conditions that would excite investors to put money into biomedical science. ultimately the united states is saving the world through investment in the nih. want to put in a plug for continuing with the nih investment if not for the science funded. we wouldn't have science to translate into effective medical products. >> thank you, thank you for your testimony. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator bennett. i want to thank senator mikulski, senator casey for allowing senator sanders to go next. he has been waiting patiently he has extra couric lar activities he is attending to. senator sanders. >> thank you, senator. doctor, as you know, you and i chat aid while back. i told you that i would not support your nomination. because i believed you are not strong enough on the most important issue american people are concerned about with regard to prescription drugs. that is, as you k

versus harmonium. 33% of these will have biomarkers.e moving in the direction is that you'll be able to make sure that cancer drug is going to work on the person before you give it to them. even in cancer, 33% in 2020, these will be rare disease cancer drugs. so very specific rare disease types of cancer. when you look at hepatitis c, this is worldwide. .. now where you really see the price competition in the marketplace is where you have multiple entries into that molecule, and that is likely to happen in the next few years. i show this chart because most of these biologics, their patents expire between now and the end of the decade. coincidentally at the same time it starts to happen there will be opportunities in the marketplace. but just one note,, across 1,000,002,000,000 to bring a small molecule generic where cost 100 to 200 million to bring a bio similar to the marketplace. the secretary talked about avoidable cost, and this is a study we did in 2012 this is that we can save 213 billion per year if we did the six things on the r

2020 is 91% of the cancer drugs will be targeted versus the hormonal radiation. 33% would have biomarkerso we are moving in the direction that we will be able to make sure that cancer drug is going to work. and even then it is 33% in 2020 these will be rare disease cancers. when you look at fantasy, this is worldwide to show you the treatment pattern of what we've seen and what we expect from 2011 to 2020 and the green uc is growing in the blue is growing as well so the function is as we are trading six times more hepatitis patients in the united states from what we were doing six years ago. so one of the things we have now is a bio similar is. i started in september or can actually september was a similar version. just this week the fda accepted a similar application on the next generation which is called neulasta so it is finally started. has finally started. it's been well-established since 2007 in europe and it's finally started here in the united states. and where you will really see the price competition in the marketplace when you have multiple entries into that molecule, two or th

we have to invest, and on this note in our work with the nih, we're very focused on the use of biomarkersbut also not using them inappropriately when they're not going to work, and this is really hard work. to set the conditions that would excite investors to put money into biomedical science. ultimately the united states is saving the world through investment in the nih and i want to put in a plug for continuing the nih investment. i not for the sciences in the nily we wouldn't have the basic science. >> thank you for your testimony. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator bennett. senator mikulski left the hearing, and senator sanders is going next and he has been waiting patiently and has extracurricular activities. senator sanders. >> thank you, mr. chairman, and thank you. thank you very meche for being with us. as you know you and i chatted a while back and i told you that i would not support your nomination because i believed you were not strong enough on the most important issue that the american people are concerned about with regard to prescription drugs. and that is, as