Academic

FASTER, PLEASE: Drug Success Against Malignant Melanoma. And I really mean, ?faster, please.? ?

By Glenn Reynolds

FASTER, PLEASE: Drug Success Against Malignant Melanoma.

And I really mean, “faster, please.”

A small percentage of the patients experienced disappearance of tumours. But do not expect it at a doctor’s office any time soon.

Further studies are needed before the drug can be approved by the FDA.

I find this infuriating. Once you’ve been given a death sentence diagnosis and have months to live why should you have to die without being able to try experimental treatments?

Stage IV metastatic variety of melanoma has a 5 year survival rate below 20% and even lower in some cases. Malignant melanoma diagnosis amounts to a check-out notice from the Life Hotel. Such check-out notices ought to entitle you to a “Get out of the FDA jail card” where you get to try experimental treatments.

Yes.

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on August 30, 2010 (boomark / email).