» Look, ICX’ scientist are saying 2010 at the earliest (best-case scenerio).
» If you don’t want to hear about it until then, why on earth are you in this
» forum that has the sole purpose of discussing HM? It makes no sense to me.
» IN case you haven’t noticed lately, HT is not a cure for baldness. It is a
» very barbaric bandaid.
That’s right, JB. Also, you are exactly right about 2010 being the earliest possible date of availability in the US. At the rate things are going, even 2010 might be too optimistic for approval in the US. Why? Because there is obviously a hold-up in FDA review of HM trials in this country. That alone will delay availability here until around 2010 or, most probably, a bit later.
(By the way, my guess is that this hold-up has nothing to do with legitimate findings of health risks, but is a purely bureaucratic event probably resulting from the actions of the anti-HM gang – that is, the well-organized American HT lobby. They are making a secret, last-ditch stand to thwart or delay HM. My prediction is that they will be partly successful – they will succeed in delaying its approval here in the US by about 2 years – but they will not be successful in stopping it, because their case is completely unfounded and rests solely on the economic threat HM poses to their businesses.)
However, I can easily see the fruits of ICX’s trials in the UK turning into some kind of limited availability in the United Kingdom, as well as a number of European countries, a good 2-3 years (or more) before it is approved in the US. Remember, Europe is not subject to the constraints of the FDA. As we know, trials were approved in England, and if everything goes well, it’s a safe bet that a few clinics there (and perhaps in Eastern Europe and elsewhere) will be taking paying patients within 2 years or so, under the aegis of ICX. And by “within 2 years”, I mean “inside of 2 years”.
You have to remember that whenever a new drug, medical procedure or therapy hits the market, despite cut-and-dry regulations, the new therapy is gradually phased in over a period of time. First, the wealthiest, best connected, or luckiest people (in terms of geography or whatever) have access to it. Then gradually, as public and government confidence increase, it spreads out through multiple access-points. But what you never see a situation where one day, the therapy is illegal and totally unavailable, and the next day, it becomes legal and everyone has access to it. You didn’t see that with Minoxidil. You didn’t see that with Finasteride or Dutasteride. You didn’t even see that back in the 50’s and 60’s with Dr. Orentreich and hair transplants.
But any fool can see things are moving much faster across the Atlantic than they are here, and, as nathan often tells us, “There’s a reason for everything”. (Is that nathan’s line?)
However, for the US, you are definitely right. We are now looking at at least a good 4-5 year-long wait in the United States. And all because of political maneuvering.
So, when people ask the question, “When will HM be available?” now, the first rejoinder should always be “Available where?”
“When” is a relative term.
And phase I was designed to test safety–not to grow hair! It takes no stretch of the imagination to see that ICX’ treatment has a billion times more potential than the following treatment:
