A treatment

 February 28 is Rare Disease Day, and the Friedreich’s ataxia community celebrated the FDA’s approval of the first treatment for FA. I wish I was excited. 

First, the improvement is quite modest. My neurologist said the drug takes you back about two years. I don’t remember 2021 being awesome FA-wise.  I know that anything is good, but combined with No. 2, this drug gives me pause.

Second, I  suspect it will be expensive. The drug maker said it will be covered by insurance, not that that’s a guarantee, and they set up a program to make sure people can afford it. That seems a guarantee, though. You don’t help people pay if it’s going to be affordable.  

We shall see.