Saturday, May 17, 2014 12:58:35 PM
Terminally ill patients can take experimental drugs for the first time as a controversial 'Right To Try' bill becomes law.
By Sky News US Team
Colorado has become the first US state to allow terminally ill people to take experimental drugs - even those which are years away from getting federal approval.
State's Governor John Hickenlooper signed the so-called 'Right To Try' bill into law in Fort Collins.
It was passed unanimously after emotional testimony from relatives who told harrowing stories about trying to get federal permission to access experimental medicine.
Dallas Buyers Club
The fiilm Dallas Buyers Club starred Matthew McConaughey
"When you're terminal and there's a drug out there that might help you, it can seem that the obstacles to get that drug are insurmountable," said Senator Irene Aguilar, who co-sponsored the controversial bill.
She dubbed it the 'Dallas Buyers Club' bill, after the Hollywood film about an AIDS patient who smuggled medicine from Mexico because it was not cleared for use in the US.
Similar 'Right To Try' bills are to be signed in Louisiana and Missouri.
In November, voters in Arizona will decide whether to pass the legislation, which allows drug companies to provide experimental medications outside of clinical trials.
Colorado's bill has received a careful 'no comment' from doctors' groups, hospitals and health insurers.
It was amended to clarify that healthcare providers and insurers are not liable for any adverse effects if a patient chooses to take experimental drugs.
Patients and relatives who support the new law say they are willing to accept any amount of risk if there is a chance of prolonging life.
Among them is Keith Knapp, from Sacramento, California, whose wife Mikaela died last month from kidney cancer.
The Knapps tried in vain to access new drugs through existing "compassionate use" guidelines, which require permission from the US Food and Drug Administration.
But there are many critics of the bill.
Dr David Gorski, a surgical oncologist, says "Right To Try" proposals are simply feel-good measures that won't help many patients.
"These proposals are built on this fantasy that there are all these patients out there that are going to be saved if they could just get access to the medicine," he said.
"In reality, the patients that might be helped are very few, while the number of patients who could be hurt by something like this are many."
Recent ADXS News
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/06/2024 12:13:01 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/05/2024 09:30:45 PM
- Form DEFM14C - Definitive information statement relating to merger or acquisition • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/05/2024 01:16:24 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/23/2024 09:30:46 PM
- Form PREM14C - Preliminary information statements relating to merger or acquisition • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/20/2024 10:22:48 PM
- Form SC 13G/A - Statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership by individuals: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/14/2024 09:26:22 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/12/2024 07:16:21 PM
- Form SC 13D/A - General statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/12/2024 04:58:05 PM
- Form SC 13G/A - Statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership by individuals: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/12/2024 01:27:51 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/09/2024 10:15:23 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/06/2024 01:51:21 PM
- Form 8-K/A - Current report: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/03/2024 09:18:58 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/21/2023 02:04:41 PM
- Form SC 13D/A - General statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/21/2023 02:00:50 PM
- Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/20/2023 02:00:30 PM
- Form NT 10-Q - Notification of inability to timely file Form 10-Q or 10-QSB • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/15/2023 09:04:59 PM
- Form 3 - Initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/08/2023 09:01:18 PM
- Form 3/A - Initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/03/2023 03:46:10 PM
- Form 3/A - Initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/03/2023 03:45:26 PM
- Form 3/A - Initial statement of beneficial ownership of securities: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/03/2023 03:43:16 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/31/2023 11:08:02 AM
- Form SC 13D/A - General statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/31/2023 11:05:10 AM
- Form SC 13G/A - Statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership by individuals: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/23/2023 10:45:21 AM
Lingerie Fighting Championships Signs Broadcast Deal With Maybacks Global Entertainment • BOTY • Sep 26, 2024 9:00 AM
Maybacks Global Entertainment and Lingerie Fighting Championships Enter Into Broadcast And Revenue Sharing Agreement • AHRO • Sep 26, 2024 8:30 AM
North Bay Resources Commences Operations at Bishop Gold Mill, Inyo County, California; Engages Sabean Group Management Consulting • NBRI • Sep 25, 2024 9:15 AM
CEO David B. Dorwart Anticipates a Bright Future at Good Gaming Inc. Through His Most Recent Shareholder Update • GMER • Sep 25, 2024 8:30 AM
Cannabix Technologies and Omega Laboratories Inc. Advance Marijuana Breathalyzer Technology - Dr. Bruce Goldberger to Present at Society of Forensic Toxicologists Conference • BLOZF • Sep 24, 2024 8:50 AM
Integrated Ventures, Inc Announces Strategic Partnership For GLP-1 (Semaglutide) Procurement Through MedWell USA, LLC. • INTV • Sep 24, 2024 8:45 AM