Are You IN?

So, I will start with some sobering statistics...let's just put them on the table and then move on.

Fact...

*30% of all clinical trials fail to recruit a single  person

*85% of clinical trials face delays due to limited participation

*Fewer than 10% of Parkinson's patients ever take part in trials, despite overwhelming interest in working with scientists to help speed treatment breakthroughs

And...

It costs a billion dollars to take a drug through a phase 3 clinical trial and 

every month that the trial gets delayed because of poor enrollment it costs the pharmaceutical company one million dollars.

Then...

Big Pharma often finds other diseases more attractive for many reasons not the least of which is that there are so many more folks with diabetes, heart disease and cancer that might use the drug they are investing their time and money in.

So.. out of this doom & gloom scenario comes the tool of all scientific tools.....

BIOTECHNOW EDITOR | 04/09/2012

Fox Trial Finder and You: Use It to Recruit for Your Trials or to Get Involved Yourself!

The Michael J. Fox Foundation has launched Fox Trial Finder, a new Web tool that uses state-of-the art technology to connect potential study volunteers with the coordinators of clinical studies that need someone with their specific medical history. The goal is to benefit both study sponsors and patients by getting people into clinical trials and studies faster — speeding the development of new treatments and ultimately a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

“This is an example of how technology can enable us to bring new strategies to address a long-standing problem,” says Deborah W. Brooks, co-founder and executive vice chairman of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The Goal...To register 10,000 people in Fox Trial Finder by the start of 2013.  They are well on their way at just over 8000!

The Upshot...me and a bunch of other really funny, smart, young, old and otherwise nifty people need a cure.  To achieve that lofty goal, all of us certainly need to step up to the plate but you can help too.  Most studies need healthy controls for comparison so if you are so inclined why not create your own FTF profile. And btw...this amazing tool now makes Parkinson's look exceedingly attractive in the eyes of biotech and big pharma...the swan instead of the ugly duckling.

EASY...EASY...EASY

https://foxtrialfinder.michaeljfox.org/

And Finally...

Thank you to the family, friends and patients (you know who you are) who have either made themselves available to enter a trial by having created a FTF profile or have given me and my friends with PD a selfless gift with their enrollment in the PPMI.