And John Crowley had just quit his job with a pharmaceutical giant in New Jersey to join a small start-up company in Oklahoma that was researching new treatments for Pompe, which he knew was killing his two children. A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children's rare genetic disorder. Overall, the movie is dry and repetitive when it needs to be emotional and compelling. "She looked at me kinda gave me a thumbs-up then threw her arms around me," says John. In disease treatment we always think prevention is better and easier than reversal, but we dont always have the opportunity to prevent some diseases, Byrne says. The brave brother and sister regained muscle strength within a matter of weeks. The larger company, called Zymagen in the film, was based on Genzyme in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Extraordinary Measures 45 Metascore 2010 1 hr 46 mins Drama, Family PG Watchlist This inspiring docudrama follows John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) as he fights to save his children from succumbing. "Extraordinary Measures" opens in theaters Friday. Extraordinary Measures. A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children's rare genetic disorder.A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children's rare genetic disorder.A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children's rare genetic disorder. 14+. Children with Pompe disease often do not live beyond the age of 2. "[17], Ramona Bates MD, writing for the health news organisation, EmaxHealth, stated that the film brings attention to Pompe disease. Byrne believed that by transferring corrective genes to Pompe patients, physicians might be able to free them from ventilators and improve their quality of life. The film closely follows the pattern of 1992s Lorenzos Oil, but with fewer filmmaking risks, visceral emotions, and colorful, outsized characters. to remind us of the stakes. The film is based on the true story of John and Aileen Crowley, whose children have Pompe's disease. There needs to be financial backing, exhaustive scientific studies, industrial support, and FDA approval. The purpose was to simplify things while adding suspense, having Crowley butt heads against one scientist instead of several, but it seems disingenuous in the postscript of the film to assert that "Stonehill's" research continues. In a study of mice with the disease, Byrne and colleagues attached a functional copy of the gene that produces GAA the missing enzyme in Pompe patients to the AAV virus and injected it into the diaphragm muscle, where the virus infected cells and thus introduced the functional gene. Extraordinary Measures. It's also a movie that relies heavily on business and science jargon without delving deeply to make the dialogue interesting or informative. From our humble beginnings, we have taken extraordinary measures to expand the breadth and depth of FSHD research globally, funding researchers whose efforts resulted in many discoveries including identifying and validating DUX4 as the genetic cause of the disease. [11] According to Roger Ebert's review, the character is based on Yuan-Tsong Chen,[6] a scientist and researcher from Duke University[12] who collaborated with Genzyme in producing Myozyme, the drug which received FDA approval. It began in 1998 in the stark confines of a doctor's office. Copyright 2023 Loosely inspired by Geeta Anand's book The Cure, it follows the story of real-life father John Crowley (played by Brendan Fraser), who quit his finance-sector job and founded a charity and a . They could barely swallow or chew. Additional studies by faculty researchers Shelley Collins, Cathryn Mah, David Fuller, Paul Reier and Danny Martin coordinated by advanced practice nurse Lee Ann Lawson will evaluate the patients development and rehabilitation potentials. Megan was able to smile for the first time in years. Extraordinary Measures is a 2010 American-English language movie, directed by Tom Vaughan and written by Robert Nelson Jacobs, Geeta Anand (book "The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million - And Bucked the Medical Establishment - in a Quest to Save His Children"). Get the best from CT editors, delivered straight to your inbox! 2010. Or take Courtney B. Vance, completely wasted as another father with Pompe children; he literally has three scenes with dialogue amounting to "Here's a check I have two kids with Pompe Thanks for everything you're doing." Randolph, MA 02368 U.S.A. Discovering the Cause and the Cure for FSHD. Sadly, the Stonehill concoction backfires and derails much of the movie. (for thematic material, language, and a mild suggestive moment). A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children's rare genetic disorder.A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children's rare genetic disorder.A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher who might have a cure for their two children's rare genetic disorder. Studies have given us encouraging evidence that gene therapy for some very devastating diseases is a realistic possibility, Byrne says. "I have a tiny little plaque on my desk which my mom gave me the week I started that tiny company. John learns of some promising research by a university scientist, Dr. Robert Stonehill, played by Harrison Ford. One of a handful of doctors in the world with extensive experience with Pompe patients, Byrne among other scientists provided the basis for the fictional Dr. Robert Stonehill, portrayed by Harrison Ford. Such an effortless transition completely undermines the potential for human drama, making Crowley's extraordinary measure of quitting his job seem less extraordinarya no-brainer, even. FDA rules, however, forced him to resign from the company before Megan and Patrick could take part in a clinical trial in 2003. The Crowleys were told the grim news that 15-month-old Megan had a rare muscle-wasting condition, Pompe disease. This task proves very daunting for Stonehill, who already works around the clock. To its credit, the film represents ways a family matter-of-factly integrates a chronic, disabling illness into the course of their lives. Fate and determination push idealistic father, John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) into joining forces with reclusive medical researcher, Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford). Critics Consensus: Despite a timely topic and a pair of heavyweight leads, Extraordinary Measures never feels like much more than a made-for-TV tearjerker. Tom Brady to spare us his stand up comedy phase. The film opened at #8 on its opening weekend, taking in $6 million. "I thought there were smarter and better people than me who could do this. More than 20 countries participate in the FSHD Society-led World Alliance. How do we discern God's will in the matter? Internet Service Terms Without the enzyme, sugars and starches accumulate in muscle cells and destroy them, particularly those of the heart and respiratory muscles. Is it "more Christian" to be active rather than passive when facing trials and tribulation? This has been a very long process. This was the first time Nike allowed filming on their campus and they donated the location payment to Doernbecher Childrens Hospital. Determination pushes an idealistic father into joining forces with a reclusive medical researcher to find a cure before it's too late. There's an inordinate amount of profanity (including misuse of Christ's name) for a movie that might otherwise have been deemed family-friendly or appropriate for an elementary classroom. Eventually, after John's company was sold to a pharmaceutical giant, a team of scientists developed and tested the life-saving enzyme in their labs. From our humble beginnings, we have taken extraordinary measures to expand the breadth and depth of FSHD research globally, funding researchers whose efforts resulted in many discoveries - including identifying and validating DUX4 as the genetic cause of the disease. Henceforth, more than 1000 infants born worldwide every year with Pompe disease will no longer face the prospect of death before reaching their first birthday for lack of a treatment for the condition. Apple Inc. Within six months, Patrick and Megan could sit up unassisted and enjoy hectic family outings to places like Disney World and the beach. Enrollment for the trial began in November. Extraordinary Measures was a Nationwide release in 2010 on Friday, January 22, 2010 in around 2,549 theaters. I still have flare-ups, but I am not as tired and have had some slight improvements in endurance and mobility., www.peds.ufl.edu/research/teams/byrne.asp. Inspired by the book "The Cure" by Pulitzer Prize Winning Writer Greeta Anand. "The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Millionand Bucked the Medical Establishmentin a Quest to Save His Children," "Extraordinary Measures" follows Oregonian marketing executive John Crowley's (Fraser . Extraordinary Measures . All rights reserved. 28%. The film chronicles the couple's inspirational battle to find a cure for the terrible disease that affects their children. "Patrick wants to follow in his grandfather's footsteps as a police officer.". Pop culture obsessives writing for the pop culture obsessed. Inspired by the book "The Cure" by Pulitzer Prize Winning Writer Greeta Anand. . John Crowley makes a cameo appearance as a venture capitalist. Most children die of this disease by the time they reach age 9, so John and Aileen are frantic about finding a cure. For years, Byrne and others have attacked Pompe and other glycogen storage diseases on two fronts developing replacement enzymes that could be administered intravenously and developing gene therapies that would enable the body to produce the enzymes itself. As time is running short, Stonehill's angry outburst hinders the company's faith in him, and the profit motive may upend John's hopes. If only it were that simple. Winston Churchill?a>? Together, this unlikely pair face impossible odds as they battle the entire medical establishment and time itself to find a cure before its too late. Inspired by the book "The Cure" by Greeta Anand. It was the first film produced by CBS Films, the film division of CBS Corporation, who released the film on January 22, 2010. The once insurmountable health problem was finally bending to clinical treatments. Also a movie that relies heavily on business and science jargon without delving deeply to make the dialogue or! 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