There is a one-man trial that would convince the world, even the FDA, if through no other means than public pressure.
Announcer: Tonight, Live from Madison Square Garden, with an SRO audience, here is 60 Minutes correspondent, Leslie Stahl.
Leslie: Thank you, Johnny. Today, we want to re-acquaint you with one of the superstars from 30 years ago, who, for the last two decades, went through tremendous pain and trauma during his Parkinson disease years, I want to present: Michael J. Fox, wife Tracy and family.
[Fox family enters … all on skateboards.]
Leslie: So, Michael, what is the significance of the skateboards.
Michael: Leslie, I want your audience, here in Madison Square Gardens, and your TV viewing audience know that the Alex Keaton/Marty McFly is alive … and VERY WELL!
[Orchestra strikes up the “Viennese Waltz” and Michael and Tracy do the dance with twirls and dips.[
Michael: So, last year, one of the biotech companies that my foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, supports, Anavex Life Science, got the go-ahead to conduct a trial in Spain for Parkinson’s Disease Dementia. After that start, Anavex asks and was granted a “one-off” from the FDA.
Leslie: What do you mean, “one-off?”
Michael: One of the VP’s at Anavex, Dr. Fadiran, … I hope I pronounced it correctly, … reached out to the FDA staff and asked if Anavex could provide its drug, Anavex 2-73, to one person, only, and examine how that person responds during the trial period designated. I was that person.
Leslie: So, what happened after that?
Michael: I’ll turn this over to Tracy.
Tracy: In the first week that Michael was taking the drug, we were able to tell that his needs were not as demanding. Michael was not asking for assistance as often (he doesn’t like the word “help” to be used). Gradually over the next 2-3 months, he stopped asking at all.
Michael: If I may fill in part of the background, when I heard of this opportunity, I told Chris that …
Leslie: Who is “Chris?”
Michael: Chris is Chris Missling, the top guy at Anavex … I told him “No guinea pig for me,” I want to know if it works for me or not. So, we agreed that I would receive double the PDD dosage given in Spain … in other words, I was an “outlier.”
Leslie: So, what happened?
Michael: Leslie, THIS is what happened. I am a normal 58 year old man who has all the desires, goals … now renewed … energy, expectations, dreams that a man with a family wants to watch grow and …
Leslie: Michael, in the last twenty years, did you ever expect this to happen?
Michael: Leslie, I was in a hopeless downward spiral, regardless of my outward appearance and attitude. Tracy saw it everyday and our children sensed it though we tried to shield them from the expected results. But, in the end, I felt a cure or remedy would come my way.
Leslie: So, when did your kids and/or friends start to perceive something was different about you?
Michael: Last Christmas, one of our best friends who had been filming in Australia for six months, came into our home and said that my head was not shaking as often or as extremely … at that, I looked at Tracy and got the biggest smile since our marriage.
Leslie: Why did you consent to take this drug?
Michael: Leslie, I have tried numerous “next best” Parkinson’s drugs for the last twenty years. Not one of them claimed that the drugs were “safe,” that is, I should expect some adverse effects during the time that I took the specific drug. Chris told me that Anavex drug was safe with minimal side effects … Given the faith shown by those in Spain, I thought I should support them, not only in spirit, but in body, too … and today, you see the Michael J. Fox, a 58 year old male, seeking his way “Back to the Future.”
Leslie: Michael, thank you for this inspirational miracle and your faith that it would occur!!!
Michael: Leslie, I appreciate this opportunity to show the world my progress. My thanks goes to Chris, Dr. Fadiran and all those associated with Anavex. I recommend all listening to call for ... ANAVEX NOW!!!
