|
|
Americans Forced Overseas for Life Saving Treatments
|
Added: 11/10/2004
Type: Summary
Viewed: 790 time(s)
[ Not Rated Yet ] |
Americans Forced Overseas for Life Saving Treatments
November 10, 2004 -- Patients facing terminal or incurrable diseases are being forced overseas to obtain advanced biological and immunological therapies. Lack of profitable business models, byzantine regulatory processes, and lack of access to late phase drug trials are preventing desperate patients access to potentially life saving treatments. In addition, political controversies surrounding stem cells are preventing research and access to essentially harmless, but life saving therapies.
Helping to fill the void, biotechnology companies, venture capitalists and clinicians are setting up clinics around the world offering the same same treatments found at america's most prestigious institutions, such as MD ANDERSON, SLOAN KETTERING, MAYO CLINIC and others . Experimental treatments such as cancer vaccines, immunological adoptive therapies, stem cell treatments and other highly effective experimental treatments are being offered as personalized treatments worldwide.
Cancer vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines and various stem cell therapies are based on the creation of personalized biological treatments and vaccinations using the patient's own immune and stem cells and information about the specific unique disease. This process is relatively simple to duplicate, which discourages drug companies from investing the necessary millions to bring treatments to market. In addition, companies cannot patent many cell based treatments, discouraging investment into many biotherapies.
The FDA has been viewed as part if not all of the problem by many researchers and patients. Because of the immense expense of bringing drugs and treatments to market, as well as, the huge liability involved to pharmaceutical companies, many promising treatments are left unfunded and unavailable , despite their low side effect profiles. In addtion, the FDA tightly controls access to drug trials, even late phase trials where side effects are minimal. A recent phase 3 trial for prostate cancer vaccines had 10,000 applicants for 50 positions, despite the fact the only side effects were runny nose and joint pains.
Private consulting firms are answering the call, helping desparate patients locate private clinics offering advanced treatments throughout the world. Advanced cellular therapies, cancer vaccines and stem cell therapies are being offered in the Bahamas, Mexico, Europe , South America and Asia. Even embryonic and adult stem cell treatments are being offered outside of the US free from the stigma and controversy.
Information seminars are being conducted in major cities. Families and patients are being invited to seminars where they can obtain detailed information about the treatments, doctors, clinics, travel arrangements and other important facts.
Clinics representitives stress that treatments are experimental and continued standard of care treatments by their own physician is encouraged. This helps avoid political or moral wrangling in using experimental therapies as primary treatments.
In addition, most clinics describe their treatments as alternative or complimentary, this despite the fact that these treatments are found at our most prestigious institutions and being offered to select, fortunate patients.
One organization, The American Board of Stem Cell Medicine, inc. was formed by physicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, lawyers and regulators helping formulate and standardize treatments, organize funding, help push therapies through the FDA and a variety of other activities in the area of stem cell and cellular medicine. Physicians in the organizations get first hand information of the various experimental treatments outside the US. Members evaluate, discuss and benchmark treatments while providing information to members and patients.
Information can be obtained by calling 1 773 244 9651 |
Article Pages: 1
Article Comments
 Add Comment |
 View All (0)
There are currently no comments for this article.
|
|
|
Good Resources