Say you have Cancer! A new drug in development may save your life. Should you have premature access to it?
Say you have Cancer! A new drug in development may save your life. Should you have premature access to it?
RocketBoom's co-founder Andrew Baron found out last week that his father had Multiple Myeloma, and likely less than 48 hours to live. Then a miracle occured. A drug that could save his father's life existed. However the drug was not approved by the FDA to be used this way. They sought and quickly got approval from the FDA. But now, the drug's manufacturer Biogen won't approve usage despite pleas to Biogen's president from Lance Burton, President Clinton, and others. Read this open letter and request for help from Andrew to learn what you can do to save his father's life.
In April, a dear friend of
In April, a dear friend of mine died from multiple myeloma. I blogged about it:
http://www.redroom.com/blog/ellen-r-sheeley/bloggers-block
I hope Andrew's father gets his treatment.
Denying use of research Rx is not always a heartless decision.
Ellen, this particular case doesn't give us enough information to fairly decide if this man should get the drug or not. I'd like to hear the drug manufacturer's reasoning for denying it.
Glaring is the moribund condition of this patient...only a few days from death. Alas, cancer drugs don't work like antibiotics. A patient can definitely be too advanced for anti-cancer treatment. He/she should be in good enough condition to withstand the probable toxic effects of the medication and have sufficient time remaining to allow it to progressively turn the tide against the invading cancer. At this late moment in his disease, it seems this man will die regardless.
The drug researchers have surely spent several years and a billion plus dollars developing this drug. Many variables, both positive and negative, must be carefully checked and rechecked with each administration of the drug to prove that it is effective and reasonably safe. Rushing the drug out to the public on special requests before it is "ready" doesn't help the process of its careful accent to FDA approval.
Too, in the scheme of development of a treatment drug, who is to determine who might be given a drug prematurely and who must wait?
Again, I'd want to hear from the drug developers as to why they denied this man premature treatment. It wouldn't be a selfish or uncaring reason. We must look forward to the countless folks who will benefit in the future if the drug proves to work safely.
You're right, Dennis. And
You're right, Dennis.
And even without knowing all the particulars, as a businessperson, my educated guess is that the risk of future litigation is at least part of the drug company's calculation in this case.
My friend deteriorated very quickly. Very quickly. Even though we knew she was going to refuse additional treatment if her multiple myeloma returned, none of us was prepared for her to die as quickly as she did once she went out of remission.
Ellen, you have my sympathy.
"We can't make new old friends. We only lose them."