From Wikipedia:
Sipuleucel-T
(APC8015, trade name Provenge), manufactured by Dendreon Corporation, is a therapeutic cancer vaccine for prostate cancer (CaP). It must be prepared
specifically for each patient. In metastatic prostate cancer, it has extended
survival by about four months. It costs $93,000 for a course of treatment.
The novelty of approach and intuitive understanding of
the mechanism behind the treatment (keyword “vaccine”) would imply that we have
here a possibility for a Black
Swan! The cost of treatment can also convince us that the treatment is very
complex, even very complicated.
Well, the results
of clinical trials were not so encouraging but there is still a chance to have
a Grey Swan situation here. However I am afraid that the situation is
transforming to becoming a Dirty Swan. According to this article Provenge
has a lot of trouble. It is disappointing that this novel approach seems to
fail. We need more new creative ideas!
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