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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsData show panic and disorganization dominate the study of Covid-19 drugs
STAT
MATTHEW HERPER and ERIN RIGLIN
JULY 6, 2020
In a gigantic feat of scientific ambition, researchers have designed a staggering 1,200 clinical trials aimed at testing treatment and prevention strategies against Covid-19 since the start of January. But a new STAT analysis shows the effort has been marked by disorder and disorganization, with huge financial resources wasted.
The analysis, conducted in partnership with Applied XL, a Newlab Venture Studio company, found that one in every six trials was designed to study the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, which have been shown to have no benefit in hospitalized patients.
If the goal was to optimize the likelihood of figuring out the best treatment options, the system is off course, said Robert Califf, the head of clinical policy and strategy at Verily Life Sciences and Google Health and a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. The findings show, he said, that too often studies are too small to answer questions, lack real control groups, and put too much emphasis on a few potential treatments, as occurred with hydroxychloroquine.
Indeed, the analysis found many of the studies are so small 39% are enrolling or plan to enroll fewer than 100 patients that they are unlikely to yield clear results. About 38% of the studies have not actually begun enrolling patients.
Its a huge amount of wasted effort and wasted energy when actually a bit of coordination and collaboration could go a long way and answer a few questions, said Martin Landray, a professor of medicine at Oxford University and one of the lead researchers on the RECOVERY study, a large trial of multiple treatments being run by the U.K. government.
The analysis, conducted in partnership with Applied XL, a Newlab Venture Studio company, found that one in every six trials was designed to study the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, which have been shown to have no benefit in hospitalized patients.
If the goal was to optimize the likelihood of figuring out the best treatment options, the system is off course, said Robert Califf, the head of clinical policy and strategy at Verily Life Sciences and Google Health and a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. The findings show, he said, that too often studies are too small to answer questions, lack real control groups, and put too much emphasis on a few potential treatments, as occurred with hydroxychloroquine.
Indeed, the analysis found many of the studies are so small 39% are enrolling or plan to enroll fewer than 100 patients that they are unlikely to yield clear results. About 38% of the studies have not actually begun enrolling patients.
Its a huge amount of wasted effort and wasted energy when actually a bit of coordination and collaboration could go a long way and answer a few questions, said Martin Landray, a professor of medicine at Oxford University and one of the lead researchers on the RECOVERY study, a large trial of multiple treatments being run by the U.K. government.
Read more: https://www.statnews.com/2020/07/06/data-show-panic-and-disorganization-dominate-the-study-of-covid-19-drugs/
So disappointing.
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Data show panic and disorganization dominate the study of Covid-19 drugs (Original Post)
Mike 03
Jul 2020
OP
"a bit of coordination and collaboration could go a long way and answer a few questions"
PSPS
Jul 2020
#1
That's why I post critical caveats whenever someone posts the "evidence" of a new "study"
Fiendish Thingy
Jul 2020
#2
PSPS
(13,644 posts)1. "a bit of coordination and collaboration could go a long way and answer a few questions"
Of course it would, but that would make it harder for the trump mob to steal more taxpayer money.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,711 posts)2. That's why I post critical caveats whenever someone posts the "evidence" of a new "study"
Small sample size, no peer review, often just summarized raw data, yet too many, including the MSM as well as many DUers, post screaming headlines...