Phase 1 trials - safety ones - are really cheap. I don't think they make much more than 1% of total cost of getting a drug into market (while in a total volume,

Phase 1 trials - safety ones - are really cheap. I don't think they make much more than 1% of total cost of getting a drug into market (while in a total volume, they might be, because so many drugs fail them). There is no need to risk killing a lot of people by skipping Phase 1 trials. After that, i think it's fine to try an untested drug on consenting patient with a severe chronic, or an acute life-threatening condition. I understand why it isn't done. Market forces forcing companies to save money on trials or die, may quickly unwrap this situation to Dr. Mengele-style 'trials' if not kept in check.