Hi barbara,

I was wondering if there was a backdoor way to take FTY720 as well. I'd be very interested in your opinion given your background. (Anyone at the FDA or Novartis reading this will be apoplectic. )

FTY720 is a chemical derivative of myriocin, which is a metabolite of the fungus Isaria sinclairii, or sometimes Isaria cicadae. The Chinese sell it as Jin Chan Hua. You can buy it by the pound for under $30.

Here is an article on the mutagenic potential of the fungus (encouraging).

Here is the original Japanese paper which announced the properties of interest to us.

(The spores of this fungus land on insects' exoskeletons, penetrate the skeleton, and consume the insect, hence the association with cicadas.)

But seems like you might be getting a lot of other chemicals that might not be good? And how to determine e.g. the amount of Jin Chan Hua (broth?) to ingest to get an amount equivalent to the FTY720 low dose being tried in the trial?

Good to see you.

Mark