Prominent 'right-to-try' advocate is getting treatment under the new law

Matt Bellina — a patient with ALS and a namesake of the federal "right-to-try" law — has gained access to an experimental treatment under the legislation. In a Facebook post, Bellina thanked the drug company BrainStorm for "keeping their word" to provide him with its experimental stem cell treatment. The therapy, called NurOwn, is currently being tested in a Phase 3 trial. BrainStorm has said it won't give the treatment to other patients under right to try, citing financial challenges in providing it to patients who can't pay. The company said it would give Bellina access in appreciation for his advocacy. He's now one of just two patients who have been treated under the new right-to-try pathway.