Longevity Firms Push Montana to Become Hub for Biohacking, Experimental Treatments
Montana is implementing expanded right-to-try legislation that allows experimental drug sales without FDA approval. Biotech companies can sell unproven treatments to anyone who consents and pays after passing review by an independent board and paying a $12,500 application fee. Longevity advocates helped drive the legislation, though initial interest comes mainly from oncology and neurodegenerative disease patients.
What is right-to-try legislation?
Right-to-try laws allow patients access to experimental treatments that have not yet been officially approved by regulatory authorities. Traditionally these apply to terminally ill patients, but Montana expanded access to anyone who provides informed consent.
What role did longevity initiatives play in Montana's legislation?
Longevity organizations, particularly the Alliance for Longevity Initiatives and entrepreneur Niklas Anzinger, actively helped draft and advocate for the legislation. Anzinger subsequently established Montana ETRB, the state's first experimental treatment review board.
What are the main concerns experts have about Montana's model?
Experts like Aaron Kesselheim from Harvard Medical School worry about potential harm from selling unproven treatments without FDA oversight. Although a review board exists, the model lacks federal regulatory control and long-term safety data.
What is the composition and role of the review board?
The Montana ETRB consists of five experts: an oncologist, a bioethicist, and three researchers in longevity science. Their role is to evaluate applications for experimental treatments and ensure informed patient consent.
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- Montana
- Alliance for Longevity Initiatives
- Niklas Anzinger
- Infinita
- FDA
- Ken Bogner
- Montana ETRB
- Matt Kaeberlein
- Hevolution Foundation