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Roger Thacker's Story

My name is Roger Thacker. I am a sixty-six year old husband, father, stepfather and grandfather. I also enjoy the status of brother, uncle, neighbor and friend. My vocation has been working with wildlife and farming (livestock). My areas of expertise are Land Management, the Endangered Species Act and the management and care of animals. My most important calling is to be available to my family, especially to the grandchildren. Eight years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

In June of 2003 I joined a Phase 1 research program at the University of Kentucky for the purpose of gathering data on the safety of the drug Glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). I was the seventh of ten people chosen for this program.

Because of the rigors and dangers involved in this study I was told that the criteria for this study would be people who were brave, intelligent, with a positive outlook and a desire for life. I learned later all the people in the study do indeed possess these qualities.

Over the months we did all that was asked in this research program. We did this with a promise from Amgen that after the program, if GDNF proved safe and effective, we would continue to receive the drug until they would be able to put it on the market for use by prescription and covered by our insurance companies.

I cannot in this short testimonial tell of all the aspects of my life that improved over the months after receiving GDNF. But I clearly believe I was experiencing a miracle.

This is my testimony, GDNF works! As my ability to move and function independently improved, life for my wife and myself became less stressful and demanding. The formula and method of administering GDNF into my brain has been totally successful. I have not experienced one side effect or negative reaction to this drug. It gave me back my life.

GDNF is a means of hope and help for the million people in this country alone, who suffer from this terrible disease. It could be the miracle needed for those who will one day be diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

In spite of the report by the patients receiving GDNF that they were dramatically improving with no problems or side effects from the drug, in Sept 2004 Amgen ordered the immediate removal of the drug from the patients and the program stopped. Amgen claimed the drug produced no efficacy. Adding insult to injury they claimed we were only receiving a placebo effect. They also claimed concerns about the safety of the drug. Claims based on their flawed Phase 11 research program and incomplete testing.

The research patients are now involved in a war to win back from Amgen what we were promised. Amgen claims to be a drug company whose purpose is to develop and provide drugs to relieve human suffering. Why then are they denying to their research patients a drug that does exactly that?

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