While I certainly hope they're on time, if not I a
Post# of 15624
I don't know if, or how many extra volunteers can be enrolled, or how great the cost is of adding more to assure that the needed number finish. Frankly I don't know if the company determines what to do, or if it's up to the clinicians running the trial.
We know they have a solid relationship with the hospital, and I'm not certain, but I believe Sheba will be financially rewarded when they're selling product, and therefore they're paying them little, perhaps nothing to run the trial. It's understandable that Sheba is trying to minimize it's costs to do the trial, but unfortunately, it's no doubt resulted in delays.
I don't know if they plan to take a similar path in other Phase 1 and 2 Trials. City of Hope, where I'm being treated, often does trials at their own cost. I know if they developed the drug themselves, they'll sell it off for a small royalty stream, but I'm uncertain if they receive royalties when running a trial of another company's drugs. I suspect that they believe the drug could give their patients a greater shot at life and are willing to try it at their own expense with no reward beyond the benefits to the patients.
As you probably know, I've been invested in IMGN essentially since it went public. They have a drug in Phase 3 Trials for ovarian cancer, but City of Hope recently sponsored the use of the drug in certain types of breast cancer. It's not in the department I'm in, so I know no one to ask, but I believe they're funding the trial because it may be the only answer they can find for certain patients. I know they frequently do one person trials on drugs they're developing themselves.
Gary