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CBS News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
This Philadelphia doctor's story of saving his own life is being made into a movie: "I almost died five times"
Penn Medicine doctor's story of saving his life is being made into a movie Penn Medicine doctor's story of saving his life is being made into a movie Penn Medicine doctor's story of saving his life is being made into a movie Saving lives, first his own, then others. It's the story of a doctor researcher at Penn Medicine that's now being made into a movie. A man on a mission, with science always running through his mind. Dr. David Fajgenbaum works out the equations on his windows at Penn Medicine. Focusing on immune cells is how he saved his life, with a new approach that's now saving others. It's a story that's headed to Hollywood. CBS News Philadelphia. "This is a story about living from someone who was dying, and it's a story about creating hope when it feels like there is no hope," he said. Fajgenbaum was filled with a more innocent kind of hope at Georgetown, where he was a quarterback. Then, at Penn Medicine, in his third year, he developed a rare disease called Castleman for which there was no treatment. "In the first three years after my diagnosis, I almost died five times," he said. "I knew that if I didn't find a treatment, that I wasn't gonna survive. And so that was just my only hope." Castleman puts the immune system in overdrive. Fajgenbaum figured an established transplant drug, which suppresses the immune system, might work, and it did. "Turning hope into action," he said. That's the theme of his book, "Chasing My Cure," A cure that came from an existing drug. CBS News Philadelphia. "It's so amazing to think that this drug was at my local CVS for all those years when I was in and out of the ICU, and no one knew to try it," said Fajgenbaum. "So I just keep thinking, how many more drugs that could treat more patients that are suffering from diseases?" Fajgenbaum and his team at Penn find new uses for existing medications, drug repurposing. "We've just uncovered time and time again that the solutions are out there. We just don't have anyone looking for these old solutions. Our medical system focuses on new drugs for profitable diseases. We want to focus on existing drugs for neglected diseases," Fajgenbaum said. He started a nonprofit called Every Cure, where they repurpose drugs with the help of artificial intelligence. Every Cure. "And over the last 11 years, we've identified and advanced 13 more repurposed treatments for diseases they weren't intended for," Fajgenbaum said. One is a vitamin derivative that can help some autistic children. "That's one of my favorite programs. We're advancing another one is with the numbing medicine, lidocaine," he said. That one is showing promise with breast cancer. His story and research has made headlines and now a movie is in the works. "The script is being written. I hear it's almost done, which is exciting. And then the next step is to identify the right lead actor," said Fajgenbaum. "My wife has ideas for people in mind. She would love Bradley Cooper to play me." Playing the real-life story of a lifesaver. As if he doesn't already have enough accolades, Fajgenbaum was also just recognized as one of Time's 100Health leaders.
Business Journals
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Journals
Penn's Dr. David Fajgenbaum gets a movie deal for his survival story
By submitting your information you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and User Agreement . The film based on Fajgenbaum's memoir "Chasing My Cure" is backed by the Academy Award-winning producer of "Forrest Gump" and "The Devil Wears Prada." Dr. David Fajgenbaum is going Hollywood. The life of the University of Pennsylvania physician-researcher will be the subject of an upcoming feature film after the rights to his book "Chasing My Cure" were optioned by City Hill Arts. Founded by biotech entrepreneur Dr. Jonathan E. Lim, the San Diego media production and financing company plans to immediately put the movie into development. "Chasing My Cure" is Fajgenbaum's 2019 memoir about being diagnosed with a rare and usually fatal illness known as Castleman disease while he was a medical student at Penn. Given six months to live, the former Georgetown University quarterback decided not to accept that fate. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events Fajgenbaum turned to crowdsourcing to bring together an unconventional team of researchers studying Castleman, a disease that affects the lymph nodes. The effort led to Fajgenbaum's discovery of a drug called sirolimus, used by transplant patients to combat organ rejection, as an effective treatment against Castleman disease. expand "Chasing My Cure" is a memoir by David Fajgenbaum. John George "I am so thankful to be alive and to be able to share my story with the world,' Fajgenbaum said. "Going through it, the experience felt pretty similar to a movie thriller — the same drop in your stomach, the same fear about how it's all going to turn out. And, at times, I lost all hope, but also, like a movie, I kept grinding and believing it would work out — and that is what I hope will make this movie gripping and inspiring for audiences." The Business Journal first talked to Fajgenbaum about his story, which included almost dying five times, back in 2019. Today, Fajgenbaum is an associate professor of medicine at Penn and president of Every Cure, a nonprofit organization he co-founded that is using artificial intelligence to find new cures for rare diseases by repurposing existing medicines. City Hill Arts, which began operations in 2019, produced two films that were released last year: "My Penguin Friend" with actor Jean Reno and "The Secret Art of Human Flight." It is currently producing "The Housewife" starring Naomi Watts and Tye Sheridan, and "Rain Reign" starring Paul Rudd and Jeremy Sisto. Among its documentaries in post-production are "Bucks County, USA" from director Barry Levinson. The movie adaptation of "Chasing My Cure" will be written by Amy Snow and produced by Robin Jonas and Academy Award winner Wendy Finerman, whose producing credits include "Forrest Gump" and "The Devil Wears Prada," alongside City Hill Arts founder Lim. Fajgenbaum said the idea of turning his memoir into a movie gained traction when Finerman reached out to him more than seven years after she read a story about him in the New York Times. "She is a Penn alum and we've become friends over these years," he said. Lim has been founder, CEO or chairman of six life sciences companies: Halozyme, Eclipse, Ignyta, Bonti, Erasca, and Boundless Bio. The firms have collectively raised more than $3 billion and generated over $10 billion in shareholder value. Fajgenbaum said when he met Lim, he found another person who had dedicated his life to searching for cures for devastating conditions. "He is passionate about sharing inspiring stories with the world," Fajgenbaum said. " I knew he was the right person to partner with [Finerman] and me to bring this story to life." Lim, in a statement, called "Chasing My Cure" precisely the kind of movie his team at City Hill Arts is pursuing. "[It's] a story of someone doing something extraordinary," Lim said. "The fact that there's a medical and biotech angle to the story is certainly a plus, given that we know that world so well. But audiences will connect with the unwavering determination to live, and the love and ingenuity that helped make it possible, that defines David's story. He's an incredible individual and a true movie hero." Asked who he would like to see play him in the movie, Fajgenbaum said just wants "someone who really cares about sharing this story and our mission." He said his wife Caitlin's two top choices are Miles Teller and Bradley Cooper. "They are both Philly guys," he said, "and they seem like they could be great." Sign up here for the Philadelphia Business Journal's free newsletters, and download our free app for breaking news alerts.
