Cure Connie and Patrick is a campaign to encourage the GenVec company to provide expanded access to their drug TNFerade. The drug is still in clinical trials, and has not yet been approved by the FDA. Connie is Connie Loughman, an Indiana housewife, and Patrick is actor Patrick Swayze, both of whom are suffering from Pancreatic Cancer. The campaign was launched by Connie's children, and is attempting to use public pressure to get the drug for their mother, through a "compassionate use" option. This option is permitted by the FDA, to allow access to a drug that's in late stage clinical trials, as TNFerade is. While Loughman's children refer to TNFerade as a cure, the company states that data so far shows it increases median survival by approximately four months. Although Patrick Swayze's name and likeness are featured on the website, his publicist states, "Patrick is not aware of this website, and he has no association with it or the medication it advertises. He is not affiliated with the woman from the site; Patrick had no knowledge of her."
Fast Facts:
- Campaign launched March 24, 2008
- Requests people to email GenVec executives
- GenVec maintains that entire drug supply is already committed to clinical trial participants
- 100,000 people have utilized the FDA's compassionate use exception
- GenVec anticipates bringing TNFerade to market in 2010.
Cure Connie and Patrick Blogs and Commentaries
Google Blog Search: Cure Connie and Patrick
Defamer: 'Cure Possible For Patrick Swayze' -- According To A Fan In Indiana (March 25, 2008)
Digital Spy: Swayze's Name Used in Cancer Campaign (March 25, 2008)
- Cure Connie and Patrick is currently a stub, a brief collection of the best links for this story. The page will be updated as we find more information.
Help Mahalo complete this search! Let us know if you've found additional quality links about Cure Connie and Patrick on Google, Del.icio.us, Digg or elsewhere, and we can expand this result.
