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[HEALTH] · Brazil · 30 sources

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Anvisa authorizes experimental drug import for pilot Lito Sousa

Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has authorized the importation and use of an experimental medication, ALN-6457, for Lito Sousa, a pilot and YouTuber diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The drug, developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, is currently in the pre-clinical stage and has not yet undergone formal human clinical trials for prion diseases.

Lito's wife, Mila Seidl, clarified that the authorization was granted through the legal mechanism of compassionate use, intended for patients with severe or fatal illnesses who lack alternative treatments. She denied allegations of special privilege or political influence, stating that the family and medical team at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein followed all necessary legal and scientific protocols, including submitting robust documentation and medical exams.

The family expects the medication to arrive in Brazil within seven to nine days of the authorization. Seidl expressed her intention to share the details of this process to help other families facing rare diseases navigate the complexities of accessing experimental treatments.

Entities

Anvisa · FDA · Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein · Lito Sousa · Mila Seidl · Ministry of Health · Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

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