Save Amanda: Hugh Hewitt

From saveamanda.com:

"Hi,

My name is Amanda Twellman-Dieppa, I am 22 years old and I have cancer. I was diagnosed when I was 16 years old, went through chemo and radiation and was in remission until I relapsed when I was 19 years old. I went through a grueling stem cell transplant and received my lifetime amount of radiation and once again went into remission until February 25, 2005.

After finding out that my cancer is back for the third time, my dad and I have been actively seeking a way for me to receive CD30 , the most promising treatment for my type of cancer and in my eyes, my only hope. Since my diagnosis months ago, we have been devoting every effort and resource to get me this treatment, but to no avail. The pharmaceutical company, Medarex , produces CD30 and has been developing it over the past few years in clinical trials. It has been amazingly successful and has saved lives, but unfortunately I was diagnosed a few days after the clinical trials were temporarily closed to compile data. Although I could potentially receive CD30 under an emergency use clause, Medarex has refused to release this treatment that could save my life.

My father and I researched "emergency use" and contacted the FDA, who told us that if Medarex cooperated and released CD30, I could receive it in as little as 3-5 days . We have the FDA standing ready to expedite and review the approval process and we have doctors familiar with administering CD30 willing and ready to give me the treatment. Despite all of this, Medarex has decided that business takes precedence over human life, in this case, my own. My dad has been dealing with the Vice President of Medarex, who says I should just wait for the next clinical trials to open up… but no one is sure when that will happen. In the meantime, I am not receiving treatment.

Everyday my cancer grows and everyday my chances of survival diminish. Medarex holds an opportunity to save my life in their hands, yet I feel hopeless and powerless because saving my life is not their priority. But I am not ready to take "no" for an answer. I know my friends and family aren’t either. So if we get together, refuse to give up, and focus our efforts on changing the hearts and minds of those who are mistaken that business comes before saving a life… who knows what can happen? With God all things are possible.

Sincerely,

Amanda"

I don’t know what Medarex’s response will be to this campaign, but it seems to me that if there is any legal way to get Amanda the drug, Medarex should get it to her.  It is after business hours in New Jersey right now, but I’ll try and get someone on the program tomorrow to discuss Amanda’s case.  You can contact Medarex via this web page.

UPDATE: Amanda’s website crashed, but I have faithfully copied the homepage text above.  Please don’t let the crash of the site deter you from contacting Medarex.