The Download: Montana’s New Experimental Drug Rules
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.
## Montana’s Plan to Become an Experimental Medical Hub Just Pushed Forward
As of this week in Montana, biotech companies whose drugs have passed preliminary testing—sometimes in as few as 10 healthy people—can pay $12,500 to apply to a newly established review board for approval. This marks a significant step in the state’s ambitious plan to position itself as a hub for experimental medical treatments by 2026.
Once a treatment receives the board’s rubber stamp, the company can sell it through experimental treatment clinics, with the first likely to be operational by the end of this year. Montana’s latest right-to-try legislation is unique: access to drugs is theoretically available to anyone who gives informed consent and can pay.
For some, especially those in the longevity community, this is a hopeful and exciting prospect. But to others, it raises serious ethical and safety concerns. Critics argue that the law undermines rigorous clinical trials and could expose vulnerable patients to unproven—and potentially harmful—treatments.
Proponents, however, see it as a bold move to accelerate medical innovation and provide hope for patients with no other options. As the experimental medical hub model takes shape, its success or failure could influence similar efforts in other states and reshape the landscape of drug access and innovation.
Read our story to learn where this may all be headed.
—Jessica Hamzelou
## Montana’s New “Right to Try” Law Can’t Come Soon Enough for Some, but Raises Concerns
While supporters celebrate the law as a lifeline for patients, medical experts and ethicists warn of a slippery slope. Unlike federal right-to-try laws, which have been in place since 2018, Montana’s approach adds a state-level review board and allows commercial sales, potentially bypassing FDA oversight. This could pave the way for a regulatory patchwork across the country.
In 2026, as AI-driven drug discovery accelerates, the law could intersect with emerging technologies—such as AI-designed molecules—that may enter Montana’s fast-track approval process. This raises urgent questions about how to balance speed with safety in a rapidly evolving medical landscape.
Stay tuned as we continue to track this developing story and its implications for patients, companies, and the future of medicine.