The FDA just approved remdesivir for treating COVID-19

[thewayne]

Well. Isn't that special. A week ago the World Health Organization releases a large study and says that it is not effective against COVID: while it does show a bit of a reduction in the length of hospital stay it shows no reduction in mortality or in the use of ventilators. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves it for use.

The studies the FDA used - and they had access to the WHO studies - also show no reduction in mortality or ventilator use.

While I'd like to believe that the FDA is still largely driven by science, we have to face the fact that FDA top management is probably also driven by political concerns, i.e. appointed by Trump, and Trump needs any good news that he can get, and getting a drug approved for COVID treatment counts as a win.

Even if it isn't particularly effective.

The data are rather curious. It showed a 5-day course of the drug as being more effective than a 10-day course?! If I understood medical statistics, I'd consider digging in to it further.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/10/fda-approves-remdesivir-for-covid-19-but-global-study-finds-it-doesnt-work/

Comments

[moxie_man]

Someone, somewhere got some kick-backs to do this. *nod*

[thewayne]

Either a kickback or threatened with with losing their job and some sort of further punishment.  Or both.  There's such a ridiculous revolving door in DC that it's not funny.

[silveradept]

Everything is politicized these days. It's going to take the theoretical next administration a lot of time to undo all of the terrible that's been done, because they'll turn around after cleaning one corner only to find it's grown over again with stuff.

Because there's no reason otherwise for this drug to be approved, since it doesn't work for the purpose that it was being tested for.

[warriorsavant]

I (sorta) understand medical statistics, and the short answer is, "if it seems ridiculous, it probably is." Starting with that the stats show it basically doesn't work, the fact that you have a statistical blip showing a 5-day course doesn't work slightly less than a 10-day course doesn't work, means jack. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work.

[motodraconis]

I was very WTF when I saw that, one assumes someone is getting their pockets lined.

[thewayne]

Or a promise of a board position when they leave their current post.