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David Fajgenbaum, MD

@DavidFajgenbaum • 13,556 subscribers

@Penn physician-scientist-patient who 'cured thyself' | Advancing CDCN and Every Cure | National Bestseller #ChasingMyCure https://t.co/26OS13etrF

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After relapsing on the only drug in development for my rare disease, my doctors told me ‘We’ve tried everything, there’s nothing more that we can do.’ To make things worse, I didn’t have a billion dollars and 10 years to develop a new drug from scratch. My only hope was to find a drug that was already FDA-approved that I could repurpose for my disease. It’s been over 9.5 years that I’ve been in remission and we have been able to identify and advance numerous treatments for diseases they weren’t initially intended for. Now through Every Cure we are utilizing artificial intelligence to maximize the potential of all existing drugs to treat every disease they possibly can. What rare disease would you like to find a repurposed drug to treat? #MedTwitter

After relapsing on the only drug in development for my rare disease, my doctors told me ‘We’ve tried everything, there’s nothing more that we can do.’ To make things worse, I didn’t have a billion dollars and 10 years to develop a new drug from scratch. My only hope was to find a drug that was already FDA-approved that I could repurpose for my disease. It’s been over 9.5 years that I’ve been in remission and we have been able to identify and advance numerous treatments for diseases they weren’t initially intended for. Now through Every Cure we are utilizing artificial intelligence to maximize the potential of all existing drugs to treat every disease they possibly can. What rare disease would you like to find a repurposed drug to treat? #MedTwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

138,669 views • 2 years ago

My doctors gave me a 1 in a million chance to find a cure to my disease. To make things worse, I didn’t have a billion dollars and 10 years to develop a new drug from scratch. My only hope was to find a drug that was already FDA-approved that I could repurpose for my disease. It’s been over 9.5 years that I’ve been in remission and we have been able to identify and advance numerous treatments for diseases they weren’t initially intended for. Now through Every Cure we are utilizing artificial intelligence to maximize the potential of all existing drugs to treat every disease they possibly can. What is a cause that you’re passionate about that people give a 1 in a million chance? #MedTwitter

My doctors gave me a 1 in a million chance to find a cure to my disease. To make things worse, I didn’t have a billion dollars and 10 years to develop a new drug from scratch. My only hope was to find a drug that was already FDA-approved that I could repurpose for my disease. It’s been over 9.5 years that I’ve been in remission and we have been able to identify and advance numerous treatments for diseases they weren’t initially intended for. Now through Every Cure we are utilizing artificial intelligence to maximize the potential of all existing drugs to treat every disease they possibly can. What is a cause that you’re passionate about that people give a 1 in a million chance? #MedTwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

105,087 views • 2 years ago

A few days ago, we learned that the first patient in the U.S., to our knowledge, has been dosed with lidocaine for their breast cancer treatment. Just six weeks ago, we learned about the potential connection between lidocaine and improved breast cancer outcomes from a groundbreaking clinical trial of 1,600 patients conducted in India. That study showed a potential 30% reduction in five-year mortality for patients who received lidocaine injections into their tumors before surgery. Since then, we've engaged in discussions with specialists and researchers, and what we’ve discovered has been surprising —no one seemed to be using this approach, despite the data available. The other day, one of those conversations turned into action. A doctor we spoke to decided to inject a tumor with lidocaine before removing it, marking a critical first step toward translating global insights into real-world patient care. This moment excites us because it shows the power of accelerating drug repurposing insights into clinical practice. At Every Cure, this is exactly what drives us: identifying overlooked opportunities and ensuring they reach patients who need them most—quickly and efficiently. #medtwitter

A few days ago, we learned that the first patient in the U.S., to our knowledge, has been dosed with lidocaine for their breast cancer treatment. Just six weeks ago, we learned about the potential connection between lidocaine and improved breast cancer outcomes from a groundbreaking clinical trial of 1,600 patients conducted in India. That study showed a potential 30% reduction in five-year mortality for patients who received lidocaine injections into their tumors before surgery. Since then, we've engaged in discussions with specialists and researchers, and what we’ve discovered has been surprising —no one seemed to be using this approach, despite the data available. The other day, one of those conversations turned into action. A doctor we spoke to decided to inject a tumor with lidocaine before removing it, marking a critical first step toward translating global insights into real-world patient care. This moment excites us because it shows the power of accelerating drug repurposing insights into clinical practice. At Every Cure, this is exactly what drives us: identifying overlooked opportunities and ensuring they reach patients who need them most—quickly and efficiently. #medtwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

55,765 views • 1 year ago

It's not uncommon to find 15, or even 50, different organizations dedicated to a single rare disease. This is without a doubt holding the rare disease community back. The reality is that compared to more common diseases, rare diseases already face significant hurdles in accessing resources. This scarcity is amplified by the fragmentation of groups. Each organization, operating in isolation, struggles to gather sufficient patient data and biospecimens, which are crucial for advancing research and treatment options. Imagine the potential if these groups could unite their efforts. By combining resources, sharing data, and collaborating on research, we could accelerate progress in ways that are currently out of reach. How can we foster greater unity in the rare disease community? What steps can we take to ensure that every organization, family, and patient is part of a larger, more effective network? #MedTwitter

It's not uncommon to find 15, or even 50, different organizations dedicated to a single rare disease. This is without a doubt holding the rare disease community back. The reality is that compared to more common diseases, rare diseases already face significant hurdles in accessing resources. This scarcity is amplified by the fragmentation of groups. Each organization, operating in isolation, struggles to gather sufficient patient data and biospecimens, which are crucial for advancing research and treatment options. Imagine the potential if these groups could unite their efforts. By combining resources, sharing data, and collaborating on research, we could accelerate progress in ways that are currently out of reach. How can we foster greater unity in the rare disease community? What steps can we take to ensure that every organization, family, and patient is part of a larger, more effective network? #MedTwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

27,305 views • 2 years ago

Huge news! The drug Xolair, which is approved for allergic allergy 20 years ago, has now been repurposed and is now approved for food allergies. A team at the NIH actually approached the drug company that makes Xolair, Genentech, and they decided to partner a few years ago to do this work together. There are so many drugs sitting out there that have obvious additional uses, but no one is taking responsibility to see these opportunities through. At Every Cure, we're on a mission to unlocking as many new uses for drugs as possible so no patient suffers when their cure sits within reach. #MedTwitter

Huge news! The drug Xolair, which is approved for allergic allergy 20 years ago, has now been repurposed and is now approved for food allergies. A team at the NIH actually approached the drug company that makes Xolair, Genentech, and they decided to partner a few years ago to do this work together. There are so many drugs sitting out there that have obvious additional uses, but no one is taking responsibility to see these opportunities through. At Every Cure, we're on a mission to unlocking as many new uses for drugs as possible so no patient suffers when their cure sits within reach. #MedTwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

19,526 views • 2 years ago

Did you know a simple derivative of vitamin C is transforming the lives of children with congenital disorders of glycosylation? This breakthrough, led by Dr. Ethan Perlstein 1-to-N and the CDG Cure Collective is helping kids experience fewer seizures and improved symptoms—an incredible leap forward for CDG patients and their families. Seeing the before-and-after videos of children who have benefited from this treatment is nothing short of inspiring. These moments remind us why innovation and collaboration in rare disease research are so vital. #MedTwitter

Did you know a simple derivative of vitamin C is transforming the lives of children with congenital disorders of glycosylation? This breakthrough, led by Dr. Ethan Perlstein 1-to-N and the CDG Cure Collective is helping kids experience fewer seizures and improved symptoms—an incredible leap forward for CDG patients and their families. Seeing the before-and-after videos of children who have benefited from this treatment is nothing short of inspiring. These moments remind us why innovation and collaboration in rare disease research are so vital. #MedTwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

10,751 views • 1 year ago

Last night still feels like a dream. Check out my full remarks announcing our partnership with ARPA-H at the White House!

Last night still feels like a dream. Check out my full remarks announcing our partnership with ARPA-H at the White House!

David Fajgenbaum, MD

13,507 views • 2 years ago

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm hiring a Chief of Staff to work as my right-hand person across the three incredible organizations I lead. The official title is Director of Strategy and Business Development, and I’m on the lookout for someone: 🧬 Hungry to make an impact 🧬With a strategic mindset 🧬Backed by biomedical experience—whether that’s in the pharmaceutical industry, a master’s program, a PhD, or beyond This role is perfect for someone ready to dive deep into transformative work and help drive innovation at the intersection of science, strategy, and impact. Click the link below to apply!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm hiring a Chief of Staff to work as my right-hand person across the three incredible organizations I lead. The official title is Director of Strategy and Business Development, and I’m on the lookout for someone: 🧬 Hungry to make an impact 🧬With a strategic mindset 🧬Backed by biomedical experience—whether that’s in the pharmaceutical industry, a master’s program, a PhD, or beyond This role is perfect for someone ready to dive deep into transformative work and help drive innovation at the intersection of science, strategy, and impact. Click the link below to apply!

David Fajgenbaum, MD

10,471 views • 1 year ago

Injecting lidocaine directly into breast cancer tumors resulted in a remarkable 29% reduction in mortality, according to a large randomized control trial involving nearly 1,600 patients! Researchers estimate that this simple, accessible approach could save over 100,000 lives worldwide if widely adopted. As we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, it’s important to spotlight promising discoveries like this. What's even more exciting is that because similar receptors are present in other cancers, lidocaine could potentially be effective for more than just breast cancer. This is exactly why Every Cure exists—to match affordable, old drugs like lidocaine with devastating diseases like cancer, ensuring that every patient can benefit from lifesaving treatments.

Injecting lidocaine directly into breast cancer tumors resulted in a remarkable 29% reduction in mortality, according to a large randomized control trial involving nearly 1,600 patients! Researchers estimate that this simple, accessible approach could save over 100,000 lives worldwide if widely adopted. As we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, it’s important to spotlight promising discoveries like this. What's even more exciting is that because similar receptors are present in other cancers, lidocaine could potentially be effective for more than just breast cancer. This is exactly why Every Cure exists—to match affordable, old drugs like lidocaine with devastating diseases like cancer, ensuring that every patient can benefit from lifesaving treatments.

David Fajgenbaum, MD

10,520 views • 1 year ago

I’m so excited to share that I just crossed 10 years in remission! After nearly dying five times in three years and being told there were no more treatments for my disease, I never could have imagined ten years ago that I would be alive today. I could never have imagined that I would have married the love of my life, have two amazing children, and have been able to be a part of saving so many more patients lives with drugs that were literally sitting on the pharmacy shelf. For the next 10 years I’ll be on a mission to unlock as many uses of FDA approved drugs as possible to save as many lives as possible. I hope you’ll join us at Every Cure to ensure that no patient is ever told ‘We've tried everything’ when there's a life saving cure sitting on the pharmacy shelf. #MedTwitter

I’m so excited to share that I just crossed 10 years in remission! After nearly dying five times in three years and being told there were no more treatments for my disease, I never could have imagined ten years ago that I would be alive today. I could never have imagined that I would have married the love of my life, have two amazing children, and have been able to be a part of saving so many more patients lives with drugs that were literally sitting on the pharmacy shelf. For the next 10 years I’ll be on a mission to unlock as many uses of FDA approved drugs as possible to save as many lives as possible. I hope you’ll join us at Every Cure to ensure that no patient is ever told ‘We've tried everything’ when there's a life saving cure sitting on the pharmacy shelf. #MedTwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

13,009 views • 2 years ago

ChatGPT just made a diagnosis that 17 doctors over 3 years couldn't make! A tired mom with a child with a rare disease started entering his symptoms into ChatGPT, which gave a diagnosis for this patient. She took that information to a neurosurgeon who confirmed the correct diagnosis. This shows the power and the potential of AI, but of course there's still so much work that needs to be done. These exact algorithms are being utilized by Every Cure to unlock the full potential of existing medicines, to find treatments for diseases that don't have any. What do you think are some potential upsides and risks of using generative AI in medicine? #MedTwitter

ChatGPT just made a diagnosis that 17 doctors over 3 years couldn't make! A tired mom with a child with a rare disease started entering his symptoms into ChatGPT, which gave a diagnosis for this patient. She took that information to a neurosurgeon who confirmed the correct diagnosis. This shows the power and the potential of AI, but of course there's still so much work that needs to be done. These exact algorithms are being utilized by Every Cure to unlock the full potential of existing medicines, to find treatments for diseases that don't have any. What do you think are some potential upsides and risks of using generative AI in medicine? #MedTwitter

David Fajgenbaum, MD

11,932 views • 2 years ago

My mom passed away from brain cancer when I was in college and one of the most important lessons she taught me was in the midst of tough times, don’t just wait for a silver lining – create it. Whether it’s battling a rare disease or facing life’s hardest challenges, it’s about forging connections, building unexpected bonds, and asking ourselves what we can create today. Whatever you might be going through today, look to turn struggles into strength, turn hope into action and craft our own silver linings.

My mom passed away from brain cancer when I was in college and one of the most important lessons she taught me was in the midst of tough times, don’t just wait for a silver lining – create it. Whether it’s battling a rare disease or facing life’s hardest challenges, it’s about forging connections, building unexpected bonds, and asking ourselves what we can create today. Whatever you might be going through today, look to turn struggles into strength, turn hope into action and craft our own silver linings.

David Fajgenbaum, MD

13,063 views • 2 years ago

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