TED Talks Daily How nearly dying helped me discover my own cure (and many more) | David Fajgenbaum
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Sep 8, 2025 
David Fajgenbaum, a physician-scientist and co-founder of the nonprofit Every Cure, shares his incredible story of turning a near-death experience from a rare disease into a mission to save others. He reveals how he discovered a life-saving drug originally intended for a different condition. David discusses the innovative use of AI to uncover new treatments and the challenges faced in securing funding for his cause. His journey highlights the power of collaboration in healthcare and his drive to transform personal pain into a purpose that impacts many.
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From Near-Death To Self-Discovery
- David Fajgenbaum nearly died five times from Castleman disease before finding a treatment that worked for him.
- He studied his own blood and tested a decades-old transplant drug on himself, achieving over 11 years of remission.
Repurposing Shortcuts Traditional Drug Development
- Repurposing drugs lets you skip years and huge cost of new-drug development by finding existing medicines that target shared disease mechanisms.
- Off-label prescribing already enables clinicians to use approved drugs for new indications when benefits outweigh risks.
Fund Repurposing Outside Market Incentives
- Prioritize repurposing because market incentives often neglect rare or generic-drug opportunities due to low profitability.
- Build nonprofit or public-interest initiatives to fund trials and bring these treatments to patients.
