A family is fighting for the life of Robert Colon, a beloved husband, father, brother, son, and nephew. Robert has cancer of the pancreas and is in the final stages of the disease’s rapid progression. But the family is not giving up and is calling on Washington DC with their pleas for Robert’s “Right to Try."

With the current administration’s efforts to allow for rapid approval of 'Right to Try,' we can only hope it happens in time for Robert and others suffering from this deadly disease.  

As soon as Robert, just 35, was diagnosed, the cancer had already metastasized to the liver and surgery wasn’t an option thus, he was given the standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer called the “big guns,” Folfirinox which stabilized his cancer long enough for him to try a clinical trial. Therefore, the battle began - his loved ones started to do extensive research on other treatments and a potential cure.

A family member found a clinical trial at the Pennsylvania Cancer Center, targeting his specific gene mutation. Thankfully, it worked for several months and slowed the tumor growth, giving him more time with his young family. However, the cancer began to resist the treatment and started to progress once again. Robert’s cancer was fighting back.

So Robert went back on traditional chemotherapy. This time it was Gemcitabine and Abraxane. Within a few months, however, he was told by his oncologist that it wasn’t working – and that he should go home and spend the rest of his time with his wife and children.

Once again, the search was on for another, potentially better therapy. This time, the family found Flavocure Biotech.

Researchers from Harvard University’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found a potential pancreatic cancer treatment through a surprising source: a chemical discovered by Dr. Henry Lowe and found in cannabis.

According to the recent study, FBL-03G demonstrates significant potential in the treatment of cancer of the pancreas with a new non-cannabinoid, non-psychoactive derivative of cannabis, termed FBL-03G. The test findings illustrate the potential in the treatment of both localized and advanced pancreatic cancer, justifying further studies toward clinical translation.

What’s the Holdup?

Flavocure Biotech already has Orphan status by the FDA but is waiting for approval from them to start their Phase I of the clinical trial. Flavocure had expected to begin their clinical trials by May, 2020, but it now looks like they will begin in June of 2020 at the earliest.

But that’s not good enough for the Colon family. They’re trying to save Robert’s life, and they want him to take part in these clinical trials as soon as possible. Two months is too long. So, the Colon family is hoping to enact the “Right to Try” Act for Robert before the completion of the Phase 1 clinical trials.

If Robert cannot be enrolled as part of Flavocure Biotech’s clinical trials with FBL-03G , he needs to still have access to the drug if there is a chance for him to respond to treatment before it’s too late. He’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain. But he needs to be enrolled in the trial, but there will only be an estimated 20 seats available, but potentially thousands of applicants. Under a pre-emptive Right to Try, given the safety profile of caflanone, Robert should be allowed to access this potentially life-saving drug.

So the Colon family is contacting everyone they can - the President, Senators, members of Congress, the FDA, and the media - to get the trials underway. They are hoping and praying Flavocure can get FDA approval in time to help Robert and all other pancreatic cancer patients before it's too late!