When Mechanism Matters vs. When Outcomes Matter

My guest is Dr. David Fajgenbaum, MD, professor of translational medicine and human genetics at the University of Pennsylvania. He explains how, unbeknownst to most doctors, many approved medications can successfully treat or even cure diseases other than the ones they are typically used to treat. He shares his story of escaping death from Castleman's disease by discovering a life-saving treatment using repurposed drugs that were approved for other purposes. Our conversation explores how researchers, physicians, and you—the general public—can explore novel treatments and cures to conditions the medical profession has deemed untreatable, including cancers. We also discuss the crucial role of mindset in battling diseases and the lesser-known use of compounds to promote health and longevity.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AGZ by AG1: https://drinkagz.com/huberman

Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman

Rorra: https://rorra.com/huberman

David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman

Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman

Timestamps

(0:00) David Fajgenbaum

(4:06) Self-Agency in Healthcare; New Uses for Old Medicines

(6:44) Other Uses of Aspirin & Viagra; Drug Development & Approved Use

(8:53) Lidocaine & Breast Cancer; Pharmaceutical Companies & Incentives

(11:36) Sponsors: Eight Sleep & Rorra

(14:16) Pharmaceutical Companies, Patents & New Uses; Lithium

(18:40) Tools: Finding Reliable Health Sources, Asking Questions & Disease Organizations; DADA2 Treatment

(21:53) Medical Community & Connections; Integrated Medical Databases

(24:36) Drug Repurposing, Thalidomide, Pembrolizumab

(28:45) Medical Research Databases, Mapping Disease Connections

(33:51) Every Cure Database & Programs, Bachmann-Bupp Syndrome; Colchicine & Heart Disease

(37:57) Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & David

(40:41) David’s Medical & Career Journey, Glioblastoma, Castleman Disease

(49:10) Autoimmune Disease, Driven Personality, Stress & Immune System

(52:52) Castleman Disease, Treatment, Chemotherapy

(55:54) Physician Continuing Education, Santa Claus Theory of Civilization; Science Collaboration

(1:03:32) Medical School, Relapse & “Overtime”, Finding a New Treatment, Rapamycin

(1:12:46) Sport, Football & Resilience; Challenge & Personal Growth, Family

(1:18:41) Sponsor: Function

(1:20:29) Social Support; “Overtime”, Gratitude

(1:23:19) Business School, Castleman Disease Treatment; Repurposing Drugs & AI

(1:28:29) Drug Repurposing, POEMS Syndrome; Mitigating Risk

(1:35:32) Nicotine, Compounds for Preventive Health; GLP-1 Agonists

(1:40:51) Bioprospecting, Drug Development; AI, Prioritization & Novel Connections

(1:46:18) Healthcare & Children; Hope, Action & Impact Circuit; Challenge & Super-Agers

(1:52:50) Get Involved with Every Cure

(1:56:20) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Disclaimer & Disclosures

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices