Tony F

5 Comments

    • Cougar Biotechnology: Stalking Prostate Cancer [view article]
      Bryan, nice write up on Cougar Bio and their HRPC product.

      I have to side with the 2 above comments in that Dendreon's Provenge--in its definitive 3rd Phase III trail--is years ahead of ALL others competing in this field.

      Additionally, Provenge had an outstandingly positive AC panel recommendation of approval and the FDA has given it an "Approvable" status already.

      Dendreon states that the Interim look on this latest clinical trail will come in 2H08 which started yesterday and extends thru Dec 31st--THIS YEAR!

      If the Interim Look falls short, the Final Look is slated for 2H09... within more 364 days....

      You mentioned how great Courgar's product is in reducing PSA readings, but I didn't see a single word about "Survival"..... which is now the "Gold Standard" in rating cancer therapies...

      Provenge has shown in its past 2 clinical trails to extend "Survival" in 33% of treated patients vs 11% in the control arm... and outstanding increase in survival with a corresponding significantly higher "Quality of Life" for treated patients when compared to chemotherapy.

      Don't take my word for the above... check it out yourself and see how Provenge is going to be the new "standard of care" in HRPC patients and the Dendreon cassette technology will be extended to cancers such as ovarian, breast, liver, lung, etc.... and it's going to doing so much sooner than Cougar and all the others.       Jul 02 04:38 PM
    • Dendreon's Provenge: Government Agencies Play Hide and Seek With Facts [view article]
      Jose... hope you don't get PCa... you have 2 options currently... do nothing and die or take chemotherapy, suffer horrendous side effects including a 2% chance the chemo will kill you, have a very poor Quality of life and then you'll die... at least, Provenge has been adjudged safe (17-0) and effective (13-4) by the FDA's Advisory Committee.

      And, remember, part of the medical treatment for terminal prostate cancer victims includes castration and administration of female hormones because the cancer feeds off androgen.. i.e. testerone.. at least for a while.

      As to Dr. Cohen's article, another documented and concise report on the continuing stone-walling by our FDA and, in this case, stone-walling against terminal prostate cancer victims. These men are dying at the rate of 83 per day (or some 30,000 per year)--an unconscieneable action.

      Regarding Dr. Howard Isadore Scher of Sloan Kettering in NYC and his involvement in the denial of Provenge to terminal cancer patients, he certified to the FDA--in order to sit in judgment of Provenge at the FDA Advisory Committee meeting--that he had only 3 Conflict of Interests.

      Internet research has found 17 possible COI for Scher. These 17 COI have been reported to the FDA Investigative Office and the Health and Human Services Investigation division without having any investigation done by either department to date.

      Note, in particular, items #1 and #17 in the list of Scher's alleged COI!

      1. NOVACEA:
      … Grants & Research support;
      … STUDY CHAIR of DN-101, Asentar-since HALTED as ineffective
      … a Direct competitor to Provenge

      2. GPB BIOTECH: Financial conflict of interest per Scher in MedPage

      3. PHARMION: Financial conflict of interest per Scher in MedPage

      4. SANOFI-AVENTIS: Grants & Research support

      5. BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB: Consultant, Grants & Research

      6. MILLENNIUM PHARMCEUTICALS: grant of Research support

      7. COUGAR BIOTECHNOLOGY: Principal Investigator; Advisory Board;

      8. INNOVIVE PHARMACEUTICALS: Principal Investigator, Scientific Advisory Board

      9. INFINITY PHARMACEUTICALS: Principal Investigator

      10. BIOGEN-IDEC: jointly held stock with spouse

      11. PFIZER: jointly held stock with spouse

      12. GENTA: Scientific Advisory Board (March 6, 2007; since removed , but cached)

      13. CONFOMA THERAPEUTICS: Scientific Advisory Board

      14. DEPARTMENT of DEFENSE: Principal Investigator PC Clinical Trials-P1 and P2

      15. AMBRILIA BIOPHARMA INC: Principal Investigator PCK3145, Phase I/II

      16. MEDIVATION, INC: Principal Investigator MDV3100

      17. PROQUEST INVESTMENTS:
      … Consultant;
      … Scientific Advisory Board;
      … Limited Partner FINANCIAL interest.


      Thank You, Dr. Cohen, for your well-spoken article!       Jun 12 08:34 AM
    • Dendreon: The Provenge Approval Scandal, One Year Later [view article]
      Dr. Cohen has presented a fair and accurate itemization of the Provenge/FDA events.

      ... to expand on the allegations against Dr. Howard Isadore Scher of Sloan Kettering in NYC may have more Conflicts of Interest than the 3 (Three) he certified having to the FDA in order to sit in judgment of Provenge on the FDA Advisory Committee meeting in March '07, look at what's been found on the internet for him:

      17 (SEVENTEEN) Conflicts of Interests--NOTE #1 and # 17, in particular:


      1. NOVACEA: grants & research support
      ... STUDY CHAIR of DN-101 which is ...
      ... a Direct competitor to Provenge

      2. GPB BIOTECH: financial conflict of interest per Scher in MedPage

      3. PHARMION: financial conflict of interest per Scher in MedPage

      4. SANOFI-AVENTIS: grants & research support

      5. BRISTOL MYERSSQUIBB: consultant, grants & research

      6. MILLENNIUM PHARMCEUTICALS: grant of research support

      7. COUGAR BIOTECHNOLOGY: principal investigator; advisoryboard;

      8. INNOVIVE PHARMACEUTICALS: principal investigator

      9. INFINITY PHARMACEUTICALS: principal investigator

      10. BIOGEN-IDEC: jointly held stock with spouse

      11. PFIZER: jointly held stock with spouse

      12. GENTA: scientific advisory board (as of March 6, 2007; since removed from web but
      cached)

      13. CONFOMA THERAPEUTICS: scientific advisory board

      14. DEPARTMENT of DEFENSE: Principal Investigator PCClinical Trials-P1 and P2

      15. AMBRILIABIOPHARMA INC: Principal Investigator PCK3145, Phase I/II

      16. MEDIVATION, INC: principal investigator MDV3100

      17. PROQUEST INVESTMENTS:
      ... member Board of Directors
      ... Scientific Advisor
      ... INVESTED in Novacea.

      83 men die each 24 hours, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year from Prostate Cancer....
      .... some 30,000 men each YEAR!

      Approve Provenge NOW!

      and

      Resign Dr. von Eschenback! Your stewardship of the FDA has been abysmal and continues to harm the American citizens.

       May 07 04:37 PM
    • Overstock Circus, Take #2 [view article]
      Do you people who write these articles recognize that, despite all the claims against Patrick, he contentions in his lawsuit against Gradient (the "research" firm and Copper River (fka Rocker Partners) the hedge fund) continues to be supported by and wins in the courts who are ruling positively about his lawsuit and allow it to continue while also dismissing much of the counterclaims made by the guys wearing the black hats?

      It's hysterical! Thanks for the levity this morning!!

      Go Dr. Byrne and OSTK!

       Apr 25 10:39 AM
    • Dendreon: The FDA's Commissioner Doth Protest Too Much! [view article]
      Mr. Cohen accurately describes exactly how poorly and unethically the FDA is operating, particularly regarding the Provenge situation.

      To aid those not up-to-speed on exactly how badly the Scher Conflict of Interest situation appears to be in the FDA Provenge Advisory Committee meeting, take a look at these alleged COI for Dr. Howard Isadore Scher of Sloan Kettering.

      In order to sit in judgment of Provenge, Scher certified to the FDA that he had 3 Conflict of Interests. These 17 (SEVENTEEN) have been found on the internet for Scher.

      NOTE particularly items 1 & 17

      1. NOVACEA: grants & research support; STUDY CHAIR of DN-101 ;

      …. and DIRECT COMPETITOR to Provenge

      2. GPB BIOTECH: financial conflict of interest per Scher in MedPage

      3. PHARMION: financial conflict of interest per Scher in MedPage

      4. SANOFI-AVENTIS: grants & research support

      5. BRISTOL MYERSSQUIBB: consultant, grants & research

      6. MILLENNIUM PHARMCEUTICALS: grant of research support

      7. COUGAR BIOTECHNOLOGY: principal investigator; advisory board;

      8. INNOVIVE PHARMACEUTICALS: principal investigator

      9. INFINITY PHARMACEUTICALS: principal investigator

      10. BIOGEN-IDEC: jointly held stock with spouse

      11. PFIZER: jointly held stock with spouse

      12. GENTA: scientific advisory board (as of Mar 6, 07; since removed but cached)

      13. CONFOMA THERAPEUTICS: scientific advisory board

      14. DEPARTMENT of DEFENSE: Principal Investigator PC Clinical Trials-P1 and P2

      15. AMBRILIABIOPHARMA INC: Principal Investigator PCK3145, Phase I/II

      16. MEDIVATION, INC: principal investigator MDV3100

      17. PROQUEST INVESTMENTS, Board of Directors, Advisor. Novacea Investor

      Despite the above being reported to the Health & Human Services investigate office and the FDA investiative office, nothing has been done for almost a year to investigate these allegations that Scher may have violated the law by his apparently failure to disclose ALL his COI.

      However, when two individuals sent flowers to the Commissioner of the FDA several weeks ago, the FDA sent 2 investigators--within 1 business day--to the florist who delivered the flowers in order to get the names and other information about who sent Dr. Andy flowers.

      Now, that's genuine justice, isn't it?

      Finally, remember that Provenge is a treatment for TERMINAL prostate cancer victims... it's not about an aspirin or an OTC supplement... this is about life and death.

      83 men die daily from prostate cancer and some 28,801 have died just since last May 9th when the FDA postponed Approval/Conditional Approval for Provenge... a treatment all AC members voted to be "safe" by a 17-0 ballot.

      Approve Provenge NOW and, Dr. Andy, fulfill your duties of office or resign.

      Tony F       Apr 21 09:14 AM
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