1,071 — Waiting for Drug Approval

If the government is moving slowly on approving new drugs, some people find other solutions.
Slow dialog: 1:17
Explanations: 3:26
Fast dialog: 16:18
Florence: A package came for you. I think it’s from overseas.
Alexander: Oh, those are my drugs.
Florence: You’re buying your medication from overseas?
Alexander: I have no choice. This drug isn’t FDA-approved yet.
Florence: Isn’t it dangerous to take a drug that isn’t approved?
Alexander: Not if it’s been approved in other countries. This drug is considered experimental here, but has been used in other countries safely for years.
Florence: But shouldn’t you just wait? How long could the process take anyway?
Alexander: You have no idea. It can take years for a drug to be approved here, especially those that aren’t fast-tracked.
Florence: That’s hard to believe.
Alexander: It’s true. First, it has to be tested on animals or in a lab, and then it has to go through clinical trials. Only then is it put through a rigorous review by the FDA, which alone can take years.
Florence: You’re right. I had no idea.
Alexander: In the meantime, I’m suffering needlessly.
Florence: You can’t legally import the drug for your own use, right?
Alexander: That’s right, but I feel like I have to circumvent the law to get the medicine I need.
Florence: So how does it feel to be an outlaw?
Alexander: Um, healthy?

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse