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Mr. FORD. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman,
I want to just pose one question and ask four or five of the panel-
ists to respond. First, to Dr. Jacob, I mentioned earlier that we are
now faced with 30 million Americans who suffer from arthritis. I
would like to know, for what medical condition do you find DMSO
most effective?
Before you respond to that, I would like to just raise a question
to Mr. Jones and he can respond right afterwards. Did you have
any adverse side effects in using DMSO and do you know of any of
your colleagues that might have had any side effects in the use of
DMSO?
To you, Dr. Reedy, you mentioned earlier that as a team physi-
cian you found the drug very effective. What kinds of medical
conditions did you find it most effective under? I know in a team
physician, bruises, sprained ankles or bone injuries or what have
you.
Another question to Dr. Jack de la Torre, who did not testify
before the committee, I don't think he was afforded an opportunity,
Mr. Chairman, but I would like to know what negative affects are
there in the use of the DMSO?
Dr. Jacob, I would appreciate it if you would start off responding
to the first question.
Dr. JACOB. Well, I think that DMSO is perhaps best known for
its use in inflammations, injuries, painful conditions of the mus-
culo-skeletal system. That includes sprains, strains, bursitis, ten-
donitis and arthritis and there is no doubt it is at least a very
useful pain reliever in those entities.
It is life saving in severe head injuries. I think that with the
animal experience that we have and with experience in two pa-
tients that if we had what ordinarily would be irreversible quadra-
plegia or paraplegia, which is the worse thing that can happen to
someone and DMSO were given within an hour or an hour and a
quarter, we might reverse an irreversible situation.
At the current rate of progress, 4,000 to 10,000 kids will be
paralyzed from the neck down this year and it will be 5 to 10 years
before the FDA gets around to approving it for that indication. It is
unbelievable.
In terms of side effects, there is no drug which is totally free of
side effects. DMSO is not. The side effects are for the most part
nuisance except for the occasional patients who might be hypersen-
sitive or allergic. There is a report in the literature on 2,000
patients in which three had generalized urticaria and some difficul-
ty breathing. There is no doubt that an occasional patient could be
allergic to the medication.
Mr. FORD. What would be the cost to a drug company for a
satisfactory trial as to the effects and whether the DMSO should be
placed on the market? What are the costs?
Dr. JACOB. I don't know how many millions of dollars.
Mr. FORD. Do you have any figures at all?
Dr. JACOB. No, but remember this, the big drug companies do not
hold the patents on DMSO. It is inexpensive. It is competitive with
patented agents that the big drug companies hold patents on. The
only people who can benefit from this are the people. Unless the
