3 ms·

Bespoke, patient-specific, genomic treatments: they'll ask how deep are your pockets. I am reminded of Lance Armstrong beating cancer.

stephen_g 3y ago
This story is Australia, pretty sure we have fairly good subsidised access to even these kind of things (once they’ve gone through all the trials). I know a few people who have had targeted treatments for cancer who aren’t incredibly well off, never did ask about the cost but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have the means to access it in the US system.
stvltvs 3y ago
Lance had testicular cancer which is highly treatable, but I take your point in the general case.
byteCoder 3y ago
Yes, such treatments have been in trial for a couple decades at NIH, showing complete response in a segment of the patients for certain cancers. The therapies harness each individual's immune system to direct it's attack to the mutations specific to their tumors. Iovance is on the brink (should have been approved in the next month or two, but has been delayed because of "staffing shortages" at the FDA) of getting FDA approval for Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes adoptive cell therapy. Besides the special labs used for the cell processing (managed by Iovance), the therapy is not a whole lot different from stem cell transplants, so any hospital that helps patients with blood-bourn cancers can provide this new therapy to melanoma (and soon, other cancer) patients. P.S. I'm an 11-year survivor post-TIL therapy for Stage 4 melanoma at NIH.
TheHappyOddish 3y ago
> Bespoke, patient-specific, genomic treatments: they'll ask how deep are your pockets. In Australia?
- deleted 3y ago
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- bigDinosaur 3y ago
  There's nothing preventing expensive treatments in Australia, e.g. via the private system, unless your drugs are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in which case the government covers all or most of their cost (but it still won't cover labour and any other associated costs in the private medical system).

stephen_g 3y ago

This story is Australia, pretty sure we have fairly good subsidised access to even these kind of things (once they’ve gone through all the trials). I know a few people who have had targeted treatments for cancer who aren’t incredibly well off, never did ask about the cost but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have the means to access it in the US system.

stvltvs 3y ago

Lance had testicular cancer which is highly treatable, but I take your point in the general case.

byteCoder 3y ago

Yes, such treatments have been in trial for a couple decades at NIH, showing complete response in a segment of the patients for certain cancers. The therapies harness each individual's immune system to direct it's attack to the mutations specific to their tumors. Iovance is on the brink (should have been approved in the next month or two, but has been delayed because of "staffing shortages" at the FDA) of getting FDA approval for Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes adoptive cell therapy. Besides the special labs used for the cell processing (managed by Iovance), the therapy is not a whole lot different from stem cell transplants, so any hospital that helps patients with blood-bourn cancers can provide this new therapy to melanoma (and soon, other cancer) patients. P.S. I'm an 11-year survivor post-TIL therapy for Stage 4 melanoma at NIH.

TheHappyOddish 3y ago

> Bespoke, patient-specific, genomic treatments: they'll ask how deep are your pockets. In Australia?

deleted 3y ago
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bigDinosaur 3y ago
There's nothing preventing expensive treatments in Australia, e.g. via the private system, unless your drugs are listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in which case the government covers all or most of their cost (but it still won't cover labour and any other associated costs in the private medical system).