NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[Doktornolittle]

The serious issue of compromised immune systems from SOC radiation and chemo was apparent before immunotherapies ever started. And so, it was an obvious issue and an obvious obstacle for immunotherapies.

For that reason, it is very disturbing that the extent of immune system damage for this significant fraction of GBM patients is news. I'm not blaming northwest. I am just saying this is irresponsible of the medical community in general. Irresponsible for this to be news at this late date. Unbelievable. But I do believe it.

I am not certain what to make of the entire picture with the massive increase in total events for full trial, but I believe the PR about the high number of patients with compromised immune systems, and this is a huge issue. These numbers, below are enormous.

By finding some way around this, NW is pushing through a wall here. They are not letting this obstacle stop them.

Again, I have not followed all the complex arguments well enough to be totally confident that all is well here. I am very concerned still, and I have trimmed my oversized sails accordingly for the possible short term fallout. But I will continue to review what has been written here, and learn. And I am certain that Northwest got a bad deal in having to test their immunotherapy on a patient population with such a large percentage of damaged immune systems.


PR Replay
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Important recent research has found that as many as 40% of GBM patients have such severely depressed white blood cell counts following radiation that their level is comparable to the level at which AIDs patients are put on continuous antibiotic treatments, prophylactically. Further, this research has found that these GBM patients’ white blood cell counts do not recover with the passage of time. See, for example: Grossman et al., 2011: Clin Cancer Res 17(16):5473-80; Ellsworth et al. 2014: Oncoimmunology 3(1):e27357. Epub 2014 Jan 3.
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