The ethics issue is interesting and it is worth noting that the...

The ethics issue is interesting and it is worth noting that the Provenge approval in part was ultimately influenced by testimony from sufferers, who rightly made the point that a small increase in life expectancy from a new treatment is subjectively quite significant, in the absence of better alternatives.

The ethics of the use of placebos for some and the potentially active substance for others during trials involves a judgement that giving some gravely ill patients an inactive substance is justified by the collective value (common good) in achieving statisically measurable results.

Once again however, the subjective point of view must be quite different.

If a country sees the product is safe and also perceives at least a reasonable likelyhood of discernible efficacy, even though not to the statistical standard ultimately required - then isn't making it available to all sufferers an equally ethical stance?

After all, tests to establish whether statisically valid results can be achieved are simultaneously being undertaken. If they prove efficiacy, hooray, if not, at least no physical harm done in taking it.

Sufferers of all fatal diseases are known, quite understandably to grasp at the thinnest of straws in their desperation on exhausting 'proven', yet still ineffective, treatments.

It seems clear that at least Cvac is a treatment of a family that works and has provided some positive results, albeit not statistically reliable, yet. Although I note in MR's reply to GregNZ that he refers to some other data concerning effectiveness.

On balance, I would rather have treatments of this ilk made available until the full trials determine whether or not, at best, treatments were extending lives or, at worst, they were not.

Part and parcel of a country following this path for 'blood products' is that the right to sell it, presumably includes the right to advertise it.

Whether or not the style and content of this website sends the right sort of signals to the market about Cvac remains to be seen, but the phase III trial results will still comprise the pivotal event for Cvac's future.