Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : IDPH--Positive preliminary results for pivotal trial of ID -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (1724)	10/31/2000 10:38:33 AM
From: Dr. Voodoo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1762

Rituximab mentioned on LA TV extremely positive-- results in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis when used in combination with something I missed. V

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (1724)	12/14/2000 5:53:31 AM
From: Maurice Winn	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1762

<Monday December 04 09:17 PM EST Idec Shows New Rituxan Use San Diego-based Idec Pharmaceuticals presented early Phase III trial data showing its lead drug could be used with chemotherapy to extend the survival time of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that had not yet been treated. Interim results for the 400 patient trial showed that with Rituxan, overall year survival rates were extended by 22 percent from chemotherapy alone to 83 percent. In a subset not including the 10 percent group of people with a known reaction to the drug, Rituxan was able to extend survival rates by 39 percent to 68 percent. According to the company, this marks the first new drug combination in 20 years to improve survival in the overall patient population.> Since the negative effects of Rituxan are so inconsequential and since Zevalin is relatively harmless other than bone marrow involvement, it seems obvious [and has done to me for 3 years now] that Rituxan and Zevalin should always be used in CD20 intermediate grade NHL in conjunction with the traditional CHOP treatment. I expect that Bexxar and Oncolym should also be used to kill any cancer cells which escaped the CHOP, Rituxan and Zevalin. The treatments should follow sequentially if they can't be given simultaneously, with reduced doses of the radiation-bearing treatment [Rich, you can figure out how much of each is okay]. That would give a much improved long term life expectancy for early stage NHL patients. It would do so because the probability of killing the last cancer cell would zoom right up! It amazes me how hopelessly slow and incompetent the medical profession, research industry and FDA appear to be. Their ethics are obviously off-course since hordes of people are dying, having been untreated with the combination therapy which would have saved them from the scourge of NHL. The therapy obviously has near-zero risk compared with the risk from NHL cells [which escape CHOP treatment] and involved field radiation which is high dosage, but local only, which misses escaped cells I wish some of these medical people would explain to me why the three year delay has been a good thing. They will call it due process. They'll claim 'safety' matters, ignoring the fact that Rituxan is a nearly riskless proposition and has obviously been so for several years. I think they substitute due process for thinking and judgement about realistic risk. I don't believe doctors value patients' lives anywhere near as much as they should. They are cursory and unconcerned about ensuring maximum survival, safety and quality of life for each patient. They treat 'by the book' instead of 'by the brain'. I don't think they are malevolent. Just very cautious and risk-averse, especially given the propensity for litigation over medical malpractise. The litigation should protect patients, not cause their early demise due to a lack of applied intelligence due to risk-averse treatment. Risk-averse meaning averse to the risk of litigation and blame rather than risk to the patient's life. The answer is to hand power to patients to determine their own treatment with the advice of medical experts if they choose. Of course nearly all will simply hand the decision to their 'expert' because they can't decipher all the jargon. But those who wish to decide their own treatment should be able to do it without the FDA and medical guild insisting that they die, 'for your own safety and protection of course'. Stage 1 NHL intermediate grade lymphoma should be treated with tumour excision, CHOP, then Rituxan, then Zevalin, then Oncolym, then Bexxar. Isn't it obvious? That would zoom survival rates way up and in early stage intermediate grade NHL make a huge increase in permanently non-recurrent NHL. Come on IDEC, make it happen and fast. Quit messing about you oncologists and start giving people the treatment which will best maximize their lifespan and overall health during that lifespan. Get patients to sign a waiver if you are worried about using your medical expertise and good judgement. Anyway, how come there isn't a bunch of people discussing IDEC in SI? There should be hordes of patients, investors and others all wanting to live or make a lot of money or both! Mqurice