A dying physician discovered his own cure by repurposing an existing, overlooked drug.
In short: Physician-scientist David Fajgenbaum faced a terminal, rare illness with no known treatment. In this talk, he explains how his near-death experience sparked a mission to identify existing drugs that could treat other conditions, eventually leading to the creation of the nonprofit Every Cure.
Fajgenbaum’s journey began when he was critically ill with a rare disease. Lacking a conventional cure, he turned to scientific research to find a solution, ultimately identifying a drug already on the market that was not intended for his specific condition. This discovery saved his life and shifted his focus toward systemic change.
He cofounded Every Cure, an organization that leverages artificial intelligence to systematically uncover hidden therapeutic applications for existing medications. By repurposing drugs that are already approved, the project aims to accelerate the availability of life-saving treatments for patients worldwide. This initiative is supported by The Audacious Project, a TED-led effort designed to fund and scale global impact.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: David Fajgenbaum: How nearly dying helped me discover my own cure (and many more)
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