Montana’s plan to become an experimental medical hub just pushed forward

Montana's newly implemented legislation to allow experimental drugs for consumer sale has progressed significantly. Companies can now apply to a review board for approval of their treatments, with a $12,500 application fee. The first treatment clinics are expected to open by the end of the year. Unlike other states with similar laws that limit access to terminal illness patients, Montana's law allows access to anyone who provides informed consent and can pay.

This includes those seeking treatments for rare diseases and those interested in preventive therapies. The state's Department of Health and Human Services recently finalized rules to implement the law, which require informed consent and review by a board of qualified medical professionals, scientists, and an ethicist. While supporters emphasize the rigorous process, concerns remain about potential harm from unproven treatments without FDA oversight.

Montana's unique approach is driven by longevity enthusiasts, rather than traditional libertarian and patient groups. The law was expanded in 2023 to include all patients, with the aim of focusing on preventative medicine. Longevity enthusiast Niklas Anzinger played a key role in drafting the law and has established a community in Honduras dedicated to fast-tracking radical life extension drugs.

Anzinger collaborated with state senator Ken Bogner to draft the 2023 law, which was then refined with the help of biotech companies. The state's first experimental treatment review board, called the Montana ETRB, was announced earlier this week and includes a Montana-licensed doctor, a bioethicist, and respected experts from the longevity field.