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@Splinty - why does the FDA seem so hesitant to give people Chloroquine, when it’s proven so effective in other countries?
The data is weak right now, even though I admit its promising in some very specific populations or maybe for a tool to decrease viral shedding as a public health move. The news is overhyping it. And because of that my lupus and RA patients are already having their meds on back order. That's a disaster for people with a proven benefit.

Medicine has a huge number of levels of increasing need for proof. Not only do these need to prove something works it, there needs to be proof of no harm. And working as well as placebo isn't just good enough. There's a difference between "noninferior" and "superior". This might sound like gobblygook semantics and splitting hairs, but the outcomes and words are representations of true stats. And if you're going to apply something to millions or billions of people, you better get it right. And that can be hard to do.

The FDA approval process, while flawed in many many cases (ask any doctors we all complain about it and branding and special interests etc etc ) does a pretty good job of safety and drugs doing what they say they will.
 

Wild

Zi Nazi
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
91,399
132,147
The data is weak right now, even though I admit its promising in some very specific populations or maybe for a tool to decrease viral shedding as a public health move. The news is overhyping it. And because of that my lupus and RA patients are already having their meds on back order. That's a disaster for people with a proven benefit.

Medicine has a huge number of levels of increasing need for proof. Not only do these need to prove something works it, there needs to be proof of no harm. And working as well as placebo isn't just good enough. There's a difference between "noninferior" and "superior". This might sound like gobblygook semantics and splitting hairs, but the outcomes and words are representations of true stats. And if you're going to apply something to millions or billions of people, you better get it right. And that can be hard to do.

The FDA approval process, while flawed in many many cases (ask any doctors we all complain about it and branding and special interests etc etc ) does a pretty good job of safety and drugs doing what they say they will.
Appreciate the response. The cynic in me thinks they’d prefer big pharma come up with something that’s far more expensive than Chloroquine.
 
D

Deleted member 1

Guest
Appreciate the response. The cynic in me thinks they’d prefer big pharma come up with something that’s far more expensive than Chloroquine.
That's a common trope, and there are many many example that the new drug works 10% better for 1000% the price. BUT if the old drug works, the current manufacturers (and potential new ones) are looking at a market place of 7 billion people. There is financial benefit for them to show this works and they would LOVE the ability to pump this out right now.

The most promising drug, in the sense of getting through trial phases, right now is Remdesivir. This is a branded drug that will probably cost a lot more than old malaria drugs. But keep a look out. Initial study data is expected by the end of the month.
 

Filthy

Iowa Wrestling Champion
Jun 28, 2016
27,504
29,656
50 deaths yesterday, 70 84 today.

and 6.7k 7.3k new cases.
I still feel like these numbers are being capped by testing capacity.
 
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