Unnatural Selection Episode 2

1. Thanks to gene therapies, there are miracle medicines available for rare diseases, but
they are not affordable or approved by most insurance companies.

2. Biohackers are making medicines that are more available and affordable to stop Big
Pharma companies from making such important medicines for life-threatening diseases
so expensive and unavailable for lots of people.

3. Nick, who has SMA or Spinal Muscular Atrophy, is restricted to his chair 24/7. His
parents are hoping for the groundbreaking medicine called Spinraza to help him;
however, it’s hard to be approved for it and just one dosage is of the cost of a mansion.

4. This episode shows the financial struggles that markets and Big Pharma put average
families through to save or make a better life for a loved one.

5. As a last resort, people like Tristan who has HIV must turn to underground scientists or
biohackers to get medication at a cheaper price; although, self-experimentation without
professional help can have unbelievably bad consequences.

6. Biohackers like Zayner have many opinions that are true about insurance companies
thrown out during this episode. Although their experiments may seem helpful, there are
not complete treatments for diseases that affect a lot of people and might not be
compatible with a patient.

7. (Opinion) Healthcare systems are terrible in America as a treatment shouldn’t leave a

family bankrupt and there should be more options for those who have insurance that
disapproved coverage of the cost of their needed prescriptions.