Dean Crowe, Founder and CEO of the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, highlights the case of a Nigerian child with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma, following Gevorg Tamamyan’s, Candidate for WHO Director-General, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at Yerevan State Medical University and Editor-in-Chief of OncoDaily, initial public appeal for help securing access to brentuximab vedotin.
“Silence is not golden. When a child’s life is at stake, silence can be deadly
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A child in Nigeria battling relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma urgently needs brentuximab vedotin, a potentially life saving medication that has data supporting its use in relapses.
A few weeks ago I contacted Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan, who reached out publicly for help. Takeda Oncology responded almost immediately as they have the drug and a program for this type of situation. We were hopeful.
The child’s treating physician and hospital followed Takeda’s instructions and provided the requested information. But now, weeks later, there has been no resolution, and communication has gone silent. Even ongoing email conversations have halted.
Takeda could you please identify the person authorized to approve access, confirm whether the child qualifies for patient assistance or compassionate supply, and provide a specific timeline for getting the medication to the treating hospital.
This is heartbreaking, frustrating, and unacceptable when a child’s life hangs in the balance. Takeda Oncology, we need an answer.
Pfizer, as another company involved with this medication, will you please step in and help?
We are asking for a response immediately and provide us with a clear path forward. Behind this request is a child fighting for life, a family desperately hoping for more time, and a medical team doing everything possible to help.
Communication is key. Silence is not golden. And when a child’s life is on the line, every day matters.
To my digital community, please help us spread the word to get this child the treatment he urgently needs.”
Read Dr. Tamamyan’s full statement.
