Saturday, January 26, 2013

ASH 2012: Dr. John Byrd thanks the patients

In this very brief wrap-up of my four part interview with Dr. John Byrd, when I offer him a chance to comment on anything that he wants to emphasize from all the amazing news out of ASH 2012, the good doctor chooses to thank the patients for taking the risks and jumping into the clinical trials. What a mensch.

I have been loudly critical of published clinical papers for failing to thank patients in their acknowledgments, but this may be changing. The patient participants who make it all possible are being increasingly recognized by the investigators.

My recent post on clinical trials dealt with ways to weigh the personal risks and benefits of enrolling in a trial.  We CLL patients have never had a better risk-to-benefit ratio nor has there ever been a greater need for us to enroll in a trial than we have now. Today, the choice to make the jump, while never easy, is easier. While one might argue that it took some prescience, some enlightened self-interest and even some fortitude for me to enter my trial at OSU, I would never argue that it took much courage. On the other end of the spectrum is the raw bravery and ultraism of those who joined the phase 1 trials when so little was known.

Let's hear what Dr. Byrd has to say:



Next  I will be posting an interview with Dr. Jeff Sharman.

Labels: , , , , ,

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, you know, I participated already in three trials, and only one (Ofatumumab) was somewhat beneficial. So muchly wanted flavopiridol trial turned to be a nightmare, and I also has some small molecule from GSK tried, which resulted in nothing.
So Dr. Byrd know why is is thanking the volunteers. True, we go there when we are desperate (unless one is a backpacker wanting to earn some cash - in case of a heathy patients trials)l, but it's a lottery and unfortunately some people do not make it to see another trial....

Greg Z

January 27, 2013 at 5:36 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home