The FDA first took note in October when Tristan Roberts, who is HIV-positive, injected himself with an unregulated HIV gene therapy designed to eliminate the virus from his body, and live-streamed the event on Facebook. The experimental therapy was devised by Ascendance Biomedical of Singapore, a company that offers to help people access therapies quickly and cheaply, using a digital platform based on blockchain technology (the system behind bitcoin) to “decentralize medicine.” Ascendance Biomedical helped three biohackers develop the HIV gene therapy, a DNA plasmid that, according to the company, once injected, transfects fat cells, inducing them to produce HIV-neutralizing N6 antibodies. One month after injection the results were mixed. Roberts reported that his viral load had risen, but that his CD4+ T-cell count had also increased. Roberts, who developed Ascendance Biomedical's digital platform, plans to inject himself a second time with a much higher dose of the HIV therapy, according to Ascendance Biomedical's CEO Aaron Traywick. The company can produce 5,000-10,000 doses for under $10,000 and depending on the results of Roberts' second treatment, will mass produce and distribute it at no cost in Venezuela, says Traywick, who is inviting documentary film crews to join in its Venezuelan mission.
“Everything that we do is in direct accordance with the law,” Traywick says. The company labels its therapies as research compounds not for human consumption, but points out that members of the public have the right to experiment with unapproved compounds. “An unapproved compound is not an illegal compound. It is simply a compound that has never been submitted for approval,” he adds. Self-experimentation is indeed legal and has taken place throughout history.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution