Read Richard’s current thoughts about transhumanism and related fringe topics here.
A compound called AMN107 has been found to cause remission [defunct link] in 86 percent of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who do not respond to the other wonder drug Gleevec (in use since 2001). The human trial is only in Phase I (compound safety in humans) but the results have been so incredible that scientists have had difficulty keeping quiet about it.
AMN107 is only one example of many new and powerful treatments for various diseases. As a result of treating or curing diseases, we are faced with life extension. Some critics argue that curing diseases does not extend life, but how long would patients in this trial have lived without AMN107? Their lifespan has in fact been extended!