David Bianculli

So for me, it's pretty good. You know, I do have some side effects from the drugs I take. You know, there's things like fatigue. But, you know, most days I feel good. I'm able to exercise fully and grateful that my cancer is in remission.

So for me, it's pretty good. You know, I do have some side effects from the drugs I take. You know, there's things like fatigue. But, you know, most days I feel good. I'm able to exercise fully and grateful that my cancer is in remission.

So for me, it's pretty good. You know, I do have some side effects from the drugs I take. You know, there's things like fatigue. But, you know, most days I feel good. I'm able to exercise fully and grateful that my cancer is in remission.

That's right. So when I was diagnosed with this cancer, I was in the hospital and one of the doctors said, you'll get a regimen of drugs and one of them will be a thalidomide drug. And I've covered and written about medicine for a number of years and I said, Thalidomide? How is that possible? This is a drug that does so much harm. It's notorious. So that piqued my interest.

That's right. So when I was diagnosed with this cancer, I was in the hospital and one of the doctors said, you'll get a regimen of drugs and one of them will be a thalidomide drug. And I've covered and written about medicine for a number of years and I said, Thalidomide? How is that possible? This is a drug that does so much harm. It's notorious. So that piqued my interest.

That's right. So when I was diagnosed with this cancer, I was in the hospital and one of the doctors said, you'll get a regimen of drugs and one of them will be a thalidomide drug. And I've covered and written about medicine for a number of years and I said, Thalidomide? How is that possible? This is a drug that does so much harm. It's notorious. So that piqued my interest.

I wanted to know how this drug that was so dangerous became a cancer fighter. And then once I started taking it and received my first claim summary... I was really taken aback by the price. And look, I'm not naive about drug pricing. You know, I've written about healthcare for the better part of two decades.

I wanted to know how this drug that was so dangerous became a cancer fighter. And then once I started taking it and received my first claim summary... I was really taken aback by the price. And look, I'm not naive about drug pricing. You know, I've written about healthcare for the better part of two decades.

I wanted to know how this drug that was so dangerous became a cancer fighter. And then once I started taking it and received my first claim summary... I was really taken aback by the price. And look, I'm not naive about drug pricing. You know, I've written about healthcare for the better part of two decades.

I wrote extensively about Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family and how they manipulated the marketplace to make OxyContin appear safe and at low risk for addiction. So, you know, not naive to the ways of drug makers, drug pricing, and marketing. But even with that background... I couldn't believe that nearly $1,000 a pill is what my health plan was paying for this drug.

I wrote extensively about Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family and how they manipulated the marketplace to make OxyContin appear safe and at low risk for addiction. So, you know, not naive to the ways of drug makers, drug pricing, and marketing. But even with that background... I couldn't believe that nearly $1,000 a pill is what my health plan was paying for this drug.

I wrote extensively about Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family and how they manipulated the marketplace to make OxyContin appear safe and at low risk for addiction. So, you know, not naive to the ways of drug makers, drug pricing, and marketing. But even with that background... I couldn't believe that nearly $1,000 a pill is what my health plan was paying for this drug.

So I wanted to know how this was possible.

So I wanted to know how this was possible.

So I wanted to know how this was possible.

So thalidomide was developed by a German pharmaceutical company as a treatment for morning sickness for pregnant women, also to help them sleep. And it was sold in Europe, in Germany, for instance, over the counter. And there were advertisements in the UK telling women how safe this drug was. And it turned out not to be the case. Even a single dose of thalidomide was associated with birth defects.

So thalidomide was developed by a German pharmaceutical company as a treatment for morning sickness for pregnant women, also to help them sleep. And it was sold in Europe, in Germany, for instance, over the counter. And there were advertisements in the UK telling women how safe this drug was. And it turned out not to be the case. Even a single dose of thalidomide was associated with birth defects.

So thalidomide was developed by a German pharmaceutical company as a treatment for morning sickness for pregnant women, also to help them sleep. And it was sold in Europe, in Germany, for instance, over the counter. And there were advertisements in the UK telling women how safe this drug was. And it turned out not to be the case. Even a single dose of thalidomide was associated with birth defects.

It was incredibly potent that way. and tragic, as it turned out. And more than 10,000 babies, and some estimates are up to 20,000 babies, primarily in Europe, Canada, Australia, were born with some really horrific birth defects, and a large number of them died shortly after birth.

It was incredibly potent that way. and tragic, as it turned out. And more than 10,000 babies, and some estimates are up to 20,000 babies, primarily in Europe, Canada, Australia, were born with some really horrific birth defects, and a large number of them died shortly after birth.