Hello Maurice,
I am an IDPH shareholder from way back. Lately, I haven't posted much. Things often seem busier for me than I would like... at least as it touches "investments".
I use quotes because, I'm sure the thread will agree, the human side to some issues come to mean so much more than the rest of it. We end up holding the stock because we believe deeply in the personal meaning of what it represents.
Your post serves to remind us all that this is such a case and, our hearts go out to you, and especially, to your son.
You have said that your son has a diffuse large-cell intermediate grade NHL with a 1A staging. With aggressive chemotherapy, 60-80% experience complete remission and, 50% remain free of NHL for a sufficient number of years that they come to be considered cured. These figures are specific to the exact diagnosis which your son now carries.
IDEC's approval is for low-grade follicular NHL, as you know.
It has been tested and (I would think) will continue to be tested for the other lymphomas which, as a group, would include your son's.
My hope for you and your son is that, you might keep very close watch for an opportunity to participate in such trials and that you might establish contact (if you have not already) with a physician who is knowledgable with respect to the work being done in this area by IDEC specifically.
I mentioned those numbers before because, they show that you both have time to do this. Rituxan is not out of reach for you. Maybe today, but you have time... maybe quite a bit more that you seem currently to imagine. A great deal will happen at IDEC and with these therapies in coming months and years. It will be difficult but, I firmly believe that the odds are on your side.
Watch this company, and for that matter, Coulter, very carefully and continue with the therapy your son must now endure. I know it is terribly difficult but, it has a very decent chance at repeated remissions if not outright cure. In the meantime, an expanded study for new indications or even the realization of additional approvals for new indications for Rituxan are possible.
As another poster said... please keep us informed.
I know some IDEC and Genentech people... and quite a few oncologists.
Perhaps as time passes, and an opportunity arises, we will hear about it.
BENNETT |
