#2469 - Brigham Buhler

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• The administration, particularly Secretary Kennedy and his team, is actively working to reclassify peptides, moving away from previous restrictive FDA actions that were perceived as being influenced by Big Pharma.  Copied to clipboard!
• The historical fear surrounding Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and prostate cancer is based on a flawed 1930s study involving only three patients, one of whom was chemically castrated, and modern data shows no correlation between optimal testosterone levels and increased prostate cancer risk.  Copied to clipboard!
• The current healthcare system prioritizes prescription management for chronic disease symptoms over proactive, preventative care, creating a regulatory and financial barrier for innovative modalities like peptides and personalized medicine.  Copied to clipboard!
• The current unregulated market for peptides is dangerous, with an estimated four out of five being filled through gray or black market solutions lacking clinician oversight, leading to potential catastrophic patient outcomes.  Copied to clipboard!
• The speaker advocates for restoring regulatory order by bringing peptides back under the purview of trained clinicians and compounding pharmacies, which would eliminate the black market and satisfy regulatory concerns regarding safety and efficacy.  Copied to clipboard!
• The future of personalized medicine involves integrating genetic sequencing data with other metrics (like DEXA and VO2 Max) to create predictive care models, a concept exemplified by the highly promising, non-tumorigenic, and immunomodulating Muse stem cells discovered by Dr. Mari Dazawa.  Copied to clipboard!
• Mu (Muse) cells are presented as a significantly more efficacious and safer subset of stem cells than traditional MSCs, boasting superior engraftment rates (15-30% vs 3-5%) and the ability to differentiate and hone directly to sites of damage.  Copied to clipboard!
• Plasmapheresis, or therapeutic plasma exchange, is highlighted as an established, safe procedure used in a cash-pay model to remove inflammatory markers and toxins (like microplastics) from the blood, which can dramatically improve conditions like low testosterone.  Copied to clipboard!
• The primary barrier to widespread adoption of these advanced regenerative treatments, particularly Mu cells, in the U.S. is the slow pace of federal regulatory pathway development, despite promising clinical data from overseas trials.  Copied to clipboard!

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Allergies and Colostrum Use

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(00:00:13)

• Key Takeaway: Allergies are spiking, and colostrum is mentioned as a helpful supplement.
• Summary: Joe Rogan and Brigham Buhler discuss current allergy issues. Buhler mentions taking colostrum (Armra) daily, noting it makes a big difference for immune support.

Efforts to Reclassify Peptides

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(00:01:36)

• Key Takeaway: The administration is actively working to reclassify peptides after the previous FDA classified them as dangerous.
• Summary: Buhler details the multi-year effort to change the regulatory status of peptides. He notes the previous administration’s classification was like a ‘Trojan horse’ and that he has been stonewalled by the FDA via FOIA requests.

Debunking Testosterone/Prostate Cancer Dogma

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(00:06:03)

• Key Takeaway: The fear linking testosterone therapy to prostate cancer stems from a single, flawed 1930s study.
• Summary: Buhler explains that the concern over prostate cancer from TRT is based on an outdated study involving only three patients, one chemically castrated. He asserts that optimal testosterone levels insulate against cancer risk, and the FDA is moving to remove black box warnings.

Dogma vs. Science in Medicine

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(00:13:38)

• Key Takeaway: Medical dogma and peer pressure often override authentic, open-minded scientific perspectives.
• Summary: Discussing Marty McCary’s book Blind Spot, they criticize how medicine defends established principles rather than adopting new, pragmatic science. This dogma is linked to the high cost of drug development protecting the existing ecosystem.

Peptides Outside the System

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(00:17:32)

• Key Takeaway: Peptides and preventative care are cash-pay, existing outside the insurance ecosystem, which confuses regulators.
• Summary: Buhler clarifies that he is not asking for government funding for peptides, unlike traditional pharmaceuticals. This cash-pay model is foreign to regulators used to the established system built around Big Pharma patents.

GLP-1s and Compounding Backlash

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(00:21:12)

• Key Takeaway: Lobbying power from Big Pharma, particularly concerning GLP-1s, drives regulatory backlash against compounding.
• Summary: The momentum against peptides is linked to GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Buhler discusses how Big Pharma lobbies intensely, arguing against compounders infringing on patents, even though NIH taxpayer dollars funded the initial drug innovation.

FDA Approval Failure Rate

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(00:29:08)

• Key Takeaway: A high percentage of FDA-approved drugs (60-80%) require major label changes or recalls later.
• Summary: Buhler tells Marty McCary that 60-80% of drugs approved by the FDA eventually have major label changes or recalls, citing antidepressants as an example where exercise is far more effective.

Healthcare System Failure and Longevity

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(00:34:05)

• Key Takeaway: The current US healthcare system excels at treating catastrophic events but fails at preventing chronic disease.
• Summary: Buhler contrasts the system’s success in ‘sick care’ (hospitals) with its abysmal failure in driving health span. He argues for a proactive, predictive model using diagnostics and AI.

HIMS Marketing Controversy

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(00:47:06)

• Key Takeaway: HIMS allegedly engineered a controversy around GLP-1 marketing to damage compounders before securing a sole-source deal with Novo Nordisk.
• Summary: Buhler details how HIMS violated marketing laws in a Super Bowl ad, creating an uproar against compounders, only to announce a deal with Novo Nordisk shortly after, suggesting the move was intentional to harm competitors.

Peptides: The Cat is Out

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(01:02:06)

• Key Takeaway: The current time is the most dangerous for peptides because they are widely known, but most sourcing is now black market.
• Summary: Buhler argues that banning peptides now would be ineffective, as patients have tasted the benefits and will seek them out illegally. He states that four out of five peptides are currently filled through gray or black market solutions.

State Efforts in Healthcare Regulation

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(01:01:17)

• Key Takeaway: States like Texas are considering creating their own regulatory bodies due to concerns over restrictive federal guidelines.
• Summary: Discussion about Texas Congresswoman Lacey Holes and Senator Colehurst looking into forming a state-level FDA to protect citizens from federal healthcare restrictions.

Peptide Market is Wild West

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(01:02:06)

• Key Takeaway: The current peptide market is dangerous because four out of five sales occur via unregulated gray or black markets.
• Summary: The speaker argues that the current peptide environment is the ‘Wild West,’ with most products sourced illegally, leading to risks like incorrect dosing.

Loophole in Peptide Sales

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(01:03:35)

• Key Takeaway: Peptide companies exploit a loophole by labeling products for ’non-human use’ while using influencers to market them to humans.
• Summary: An anecdote about confronting a CEO highlights the deceptive marketing practices used to circumvent FDA safety laws, which is now attracting FBI attention.

Fixing the Peptide Crisis

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(01:07:36)

• Key Takeaway: The solution to the peptide crisis is restoring regulation by putting products back into the hands of trained clinicians and compounding pharmacies.
• Summary: The speaker pleads to reverse the Biden administration’s actions and implement proper checks and balances to ensure safety and efficacy.

State Momentum on Stem Cells

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(01:12:35)

• Key Takeaway: States are moving faster than the federal government to create regulatory pathways for advanced treatments like stem cells.
• Summary: The speaker details how states like Texas, Florida, and Arizona are passing legislation to allow patient access to treatments under state guidelines, creating a model for federal adoption.

Cash Pay Model vs. Insurance

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(01:39:47)

• Key Takeaway: A cash-pay model is necessary as a ’life raft’ alternative to overhaul the broken, profit-driven insurance system.
• Summary: The speaker argues that the insurance model controls patient choice and monetizes chronic disease, whereas a cash-pay model empowers educated patients who demand results.

Genetics and Predictive Medicine

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(01:48:13)

• Key Takeaway: Knowing one’s genetic code (software) is crucial for personalized, predictive healthcare, unlike current snapshot data like blood work.
• Summary: The future involves using gene sequencing data, combined with AI, to understand individual predispositions and optimize health beyond just preventing sickness.

Introduction to Muse Stem Cells

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(01:50:21)

• Key Takeaway: Muse stem cells are a rare, pluripotent subset that appears safer and more versatile than traditional stem cells.
• Summary: The speaker describes vetting Dr. Mari Dozwana’s research on Muse cells, which are stress-enduring and can differentiate into any cell type without tumorigenic risk.

Benefits of MSCs and Muse Cells

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(02:00:09)

• Key Takeaway: MSCs and potentially muse cells help immunomodulate the mother’s system during pregnancy, reducing risks of chronic disease and cancer.
• Summary: The speaker discusses how the ‘juices of life’ (likely referring to MSCs/muse cells) allow a mother’s system to immunomodulate and not reject the baby. This process is linked to reduced inflammation, lower risk of chronic disease, and lower cancer risk during pregnancy.

Muse Cells in Plastic Surgery

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(02:00:39)

• Key Takeaway: Muse cells are already being used in reconstructive plastic surgery to encourage tissue acceptance and reduce immune rejection.
• Summary: The speaker notes the use of muse cells in plastic surgery, specifically in Dubai, where they are used during reconstructive procedures involving fat tissue to reduce the risk of immune rejection and help the body accept the transplanted tissue.

Future of Organ Transplants

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(02:01:16)

• Key Takeaway: The immunomodulating properties of these cells suggest massive future potential for organ transplant science.
• Summary: The speaker speculates on the future implications of this science for organ transplants, emphasizing that the cells are safe, non-tumorigenic, and immunomodulating, preventing rejection or inflammatory responses.

Honing Abilities of Muse Cells

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(02:02:00)

• Key Takeaway: Muse cells have a significantly higher engraftment rate (15-30%) compared to traditional MSCs (3-5%) due to superior homing abilities.
• Summary: The discussion shifts to the ‘honing abilities’ of muse cells. They are half the size of MSCs and can pass the lungs intravenously to reach sites of inflammation. They act like ‘heat-seeking missiles,’ finding damaged cells, absorbing them via phagocytosis, and replacing them with healthy versions within three days.

Accessibility and State-Level Adoption

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(02:03:28)

• Key Takeaway: Treatments using muse cells are already being used overseas and are beginning to be manufactured and utilized in certain US states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona.
• Summary: The speaker notes that these effective treatments are coming to the US, manufactured on US soil, and accessible in states that have built pathways, with hope for federal regulatory accessibility.

Safety vs. Efficacy Debate

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(02:04:07)

• Key Takeaway: Traditional stem cells (MSCs, amnion, Wharton’s jelly) are proven safe over decades, but the key question now is their efficacy and ability to ‘move the needle.’
• Summary: The speaker asserts that traditional stem cells are extremely safe with 30-40 years of data, but the focus is shifting to how efficacious they are for specific disease states.

Muse Cells and Neurocognitive Issues

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(02:04:33)

• Key Takeaway: Muse cells show promise for patients with neurocognitive issues as they can pierce into the midbrain.
• Summary: The speaker mentions that muse cells can reach the midbrain, citing studies (listed on Ways to Well’s website) that support these claims, suggesting a bright future for biologics.

Priceline Advertisement Break

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(02:05:08)

• Key Takeaway: Priceline is offering discounts on travel to help listeners book dream trips.
• Summary: A commercial break for Priceline promoting savings on hotels and flights.

Auto Trader Advertisement Break

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(02:05:38)

• Key Takeaway: Auto Trader allows users to buy cars online with specific search criteria and delivery options.
• Summary: A commercial break for Auto Trader promoting the ability to buy cars online.

Activating Endogenous Stem Cells

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(02:06:14)

• Key Takeaway: As we age, the natural supply of these beneficial cells declines, raising the question of whether they can be activated internally rather than supplemented externally.
• Summary: The speaker addresses whether endogenous cells can be ’turned on’ without exogenous stem cells, noting that these cells decline precipitously with age, similar to peptides.

Dr. Deutscher and Diabetic Patients

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(02:06:36)

• Key Takeaway: A German scientist, Dr. Dominic Deutscher, discovered a subset of stem cells missing in diabetic patients due to chronic inflammation and lifestyle factors.
• Summary: The story of Dr. Dominic Deutscher, who realized that diabetic patients lacked a specific subset of stem cells because their environment and lifestyle had caused the decline and exhaustion of these healing cells.

Mitochondrial Benefits of Muse Cells

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(02:08:18)

• Key Takeaway: One IV bag administration of these cells resulted in a 1.5-year reduction in mitochondrial age, suggesting extreme anti-aging benefits.
• Summary: The speaker discusses mitochondrial function testing showing that one IV administration of these cells took 1.5 years off the mitochondrial age, explaining the phenomenal results seen with these treatments.

Muse Cells as the ‘Holy Grail’

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(02:09:05)

• Key Takeaway: Muse cells are considered the ‘holy grail’ of regenerative medicine, discovered by Mari in 2010 and used clinically since 2019.
• Summary: The speaker expresses excitement that Mari discovered muse cells, which are now being used in Dubai and overseas, with people paying significant amounts for the treatments.

Catastrophic Case Study in UAE

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(02:09:31)

• Key Takeaway: Muse cells successfully treated a comatose patient in the UAE whose organs were scheduled for harvest, leading to regained brain function.
• Summary: A true story is shared about a sheik’s son who was declared ‘done’ after a car wreck. Treatment with intravenous muse cells led to his brain function returning, moving his hands and responding to his mother.

Encephalitis Treatment in Japan

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(02:10:21)

• Key Takeaway: In Japan, children treated with muse cells within eight days of birth for encephalitis showed normal brain function, avoiding predicted neurocognitive defects.
• Summary: The speaker cites a study in Japan where children born with encephalitis, who would normally suffer severe neurocognitive issues, achieved normal brain function after muse cell treatment.

Regulatory Pathway and Future Adoption

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(02:11:10)

• Key Takeaway: The science is promising, and adoption is expected at the state level first, with hopes for federal regulatory pathways to open up, potentially supported by figures like Secretary Kennedy.
• Summary: The speaker discusses the need for regulatory pathways for these technologies, noting that muse cells are a safer, more efficacious subset of stem cells.

Teaching Muse Cells Commands

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(02:11:51)

• Key Takeaway: There is speculation about teaching muse cells specific functions before administering them, essentially programming them for a desired outcome.
• Summary: The speaker discusses the idea of taking a muse cell (which can become anything) and ’teaching it to be exactly what you want it to be’ before administering it.

Logistical Advantages of Muse Cells

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(02:12:41)

• Key Takeaway: Muse cells are stress-enduring and can be shipped at room temperature for weeks, unlike traditional MSCs which require dry ice.
• Summary: The speaker highlights that Mari discovered muse cells are ultra-resilient, allowing them to be shipped at room temperature, which is a massive logistical advantage over cryopreserved traditional cells.

Regulating Safe, Natural Treatments

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(02:13:24)

• Key Takeaway: A key challenge is building a regulatory pathway that allows accessibility for treatments that are safe and naturally occurring, rather than requiring multi-billion dollar FDA processes for unpatentable products.
• Summary: The focus returns to the need for regulatory accessibility so Americans don’t have to travel overseas, questioning the necessity of rigorous FDA processes for safe, natural products.

Muse Cells and Blood-Brain Barrier

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(02:16:24)

• Key Takeaway: Muse MSCs can be administered intranasally to immediately cross the blood-brain barrier, unlike traditional MSCs, showing promise for Parkinson’s and dementia.
• Summary: The speaker notes that muse cells can reach the midbrain, where neurocognitive diseases reside, citing trials where they were visible 18 months later.

Plasmapheresis: An Oil Change for Blood

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(02:18:06)

• Key Takeaway: Plasmapheresis (therapeutic plasma exchange) is a 50-year-old procedure used to remove inflammatory markers and ‘bad stuff’ from the blood, replacing plasma with healthy albumin.
• Summary: The speaker discusses plasmapheresis, which they use in a cash-pay model to remove 70% of inflammatory markers and replace plasma with albumin, sometimes stacking it with MSCs and peptides.

Microplastics and Testosterone Recovery

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(02:21:03)

• Key Takeaway: A friend’s extremely low testosterone (80-90) was linked to high microplastic levels; after reducing plastic intake and undergoing protocols (including plasmapheresis), his testosterone rose to 1200.
• Summary: A detailed example is given of a friend with low testosterone and high microplastics (endocrine disruptors). After intervention, his testosterone normalized, suggesting inflammation from environmental toxins was a major factor.

Challenge of Quantifying Results

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(02:23:37)

• Key Takeaway: It is difficult to isolate which modality is responsible for patient improvement when patients undergo multiple treatments simultaneously.
• Summary: The speaker notes the challenge in tracking efficacy because patients often combine treatments (e.g., plasmapheresis, MSCs, Hocket), making it hard to determine the single ’needle mover.'

Mutual Impact on Policy

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(02:24:46)

• Key Takeaway: The speaker credits Joe Rogan’s platform for enabling connections with figures like Secretary Kennedy, which helps navigate the regulatory landscape for peptides and accessibility.
• Summary: The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation, acknowledging that the podcast platform helped facilitate engagement with the administration regarding regulatory pathways for these new treatments.