Written by Alex on August 28, 2009 – 11:08 am
An article in Scientific American states that “patients” in clinical trials would prefer to be informed if researchers in their clinical trial have a financial conflict of interest in the outcome of the research. The premise, however, that subjects are eager for such disclosure, is not necssarily true and might actually be false.
Written by Alex on August 7, 2009 – 8:24 am
Some really fascinating stories get us going into the weekend. Interesting and heartfelt responses to NYT article about cancer trials and why people don’t volunteer for trials… although I’m not convinced of their necessity at all, very cool story about iphone and Windows apps for clinical trials … and an update on efforts in the U.S. and abroad about progress on trials for a swine flu vaccine…
Why Patients Turn Down Clinical Trials – New York Times – I read with interest your article about the chilling effect that low recruitment for clinical trials has had on the search for meaningful treatments.
Written by Alex on July 30, 2009 – 8:37 am
I was on the Diane Rehm Show, out of WAMU in Washington DC, yesterday, July 29 to discuss Chasing Medical Miracles and clinical trials in general. Susan Page, the Washington bureau chief for USA Today was the guest host for Diane. I thought the hour was interesting and wide-ranging but you can listen and decide for yourself by clicking on “More” then clicking the link there to access a Real Player and a Windows Media version of the interview.
Written by Alex on July 27, 2009 – 8:31 am
More than 2,000 volunteers will be recruited for clinical trials to test potential swine flu vaccines at eight locations in the United States. The trials will move quickly over two months to develop a vaccine to combat the flu before another outbreak can occur in the Fall. Volunteers, apparently, are already asking to sign up to be vaccinated. The fascinating part of this effort will be to see how such a crash program goes. The New York Times story is below. For all aspects on the progress of this program in the next two months, check back…
Clinical Trials for Flu Vaccine Are to Begin Soon
By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
With pharmaceutical companies racing to have a swine flu vaccineready for the fall flu season, the federal government announced Wednesday that the first clinical trials of vaccine candidates would start shortly.
Written by Alex on July 20, 2009 – 9:56 am
A story out of Pennsylvania on clinical trials subjects is insightful except for how it pushes pushing people to volunteer, which is too often typical of media coverage about trials … The clinical trials market tops $50 billion a year. That. Is. Amazing. Talk about growth in a shrinking economy… The Office for Human Research Protection slapped a hospital in Illinois for documentation errors and oversights in 11 clinical trials – all too common an occurrence I’m afraid …
Clinical research study participants share experiences – PennLive.com – Harrisburg, PA, USA – However, Dwyer-Jones said only 3 percent of all cancer patients are enrolled in clinical trials. “That’s a pretty small group of people for a really big job …
Written by Alex on July 15, 2009 – 8:34 am
A vaccine for swine flu is nearing clinical trials testing while at the same time the U.S. is pumping another $1 billion into the vaccine to get it to trials, perhaps this month… A Denver television news station (of all places) has a very interesting story on a report released from watchdog organization Public Citizen saying that a large number of clinical trials results are not accurate because money plays to big an influence in trials… An examination of cancer trials reveals that race plays a part in the rates among African Americans in some significant cancers… all in all, interesting reading for a beautiful Wednesday…
Labs say swine flu vaccine is close to clinical trials – guardian.co.uk – UK – Some are in the experimental stages, while others are approaching the need for clinical trials. However they are “by no means” ready yet, according to the …
Written by Alex on July 7, 2009 – 3:16 pm
Despite economic hard times more clinical trials were initiated in 2008 than the previous year, boding well for the industry to weather the recession. Perhaps helping keep the industry active in the coming months and years is an increase in stem cell trials overseas after the U.S. government changed policy and allowed federal fund to be used for the research. All this and a look at how trials results from China are being called into question plus lots more in today’s news…
Clinical research activity up significantly in 2008 – WTN News – Madison,WI,USA – Despite cutbacks in the international biopharma industry, clinical trial activity was up in 2008. Overall, 795 new clinical trials were launched in 2008 … See all stories on this topic
Policy Shift On Stem Cell Research May Produce Effect Overseas – Life Science Leader Magazine – Erie, PA, USA – A total of 2147 clinical trials (Phase I-IV) for stem cell therapies overall were listed, as of June, on NIH’s website: www.ClinicalTrials.gov … See all stories on this topic
Randomized trials published in some Chinese journals: how many are …
Written by Alex on July 3, 2009 – 9:42 am
The Good News: The first clinical trial for healing an injured heart by using a subject’s own stem cells is underway. Pfizer proactively and voluntarily halted a trial after results showed it was to likely to be successful.
The Bad News: The validity of clinical trials conducted China is under scrutiny because of too many positive results. A columnist says some trials may be rushed and done poorly to get drugs to market quickly.
All in all, another normal day of mixed news about whether trials are mostly helping or harming. Here’s to hoping that on this July 4 eve we start moving in a direction where there’s more good news than bad news for the American people and the global community.
Doubts Cast On Credibility Of Some Published Clinical Trials – Science Daily (press release) – USA- However, all RCTs of pre-market drug clinical trial were authentic, and RCTs conducted at hospitals affiliated with medical universities were more likely to …
Written by Alex on June 30, 2009 – 9:28 am
The letters regarding Gina Kolata’s article in the New York Times Sunday about how grant funding directs a lot of cancer research and engenders an atmosphere of playing it safe in clinical trials are fascinating.
Almost everyone who wrote and is in the “cancer research” field appears to agree with the findings in the article. It begs the question of course: Why are these same people not working to change the atmosphere?…
Written by Alex on June 26, 2009 – 3:04 pm
The death of Michael Jackson from what appears to be sudden cardiac arrest could probably not have not been prevented if a home automated external defibrillator (AED) had been applied to revive his heart rather than simply receiving CPR. Keep this in mind in the next few days as you hear more and more medical professionals give opinions about how his death might have been prevented: A home defibrillator in all likelihood would not have saved Michael Jackson if he suffered from sudden cardiac arrest.