Biotech Values

[walldiver]

According to the Abigail Alliance, as of last year they had only advocated for access to a handful (five or six, can't remember) of experimental cancer treatments. All had either completed Phase II at the time when the AA advocated access to them (Gleevec, Erbitux), or had demonstrated clear clinical benefits in a Phase I (Gleevec). All have subsequently been approved by the FDA. I'm not sure what the other treatments were, but I could take a guess that Avastin would have been one. It's possible that Iressa was one, too, as I know that the AA has argued for it to remain on the CMS/Medicare reimbursement list for those still taking it.

I think a lot of what the AA advocates gets blown out of proportion by negative spin. They're not advocating that every experimental treatment be made available...only the handful of the most promising ones which have shown both evidence of efficacy in Phase II (and occasionally Phase I), and appear to be safe.