On the contrary- once other countries, starting with KSA and spreading through "the region", are using AS and seeing the kinds of results that have already been demonstrated, I think that will create pressure on the EPA to finally do something.
The culture of a regulatory agency is to say "no". That's their job, to protect the public. But once other health systems are saving lives with a technology, the mood changes, and it becomes not only acceptable, but heroic, to say "yes".
This is all speculation, but you are 1000% right that this is a major step forward.
