CANCER DRUG TRIALS: QUITTING WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD

[Guest guest]

Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. Weekly CancerDecisions.com

Newsletter #337 04/20/08

 

THE MOSS REPORTS - CANCER DECISIONS NEWSLETTER

 

CANCER DRUG TRIALS: QUITTING WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD - PART I

 

From time to time you hear about a clinical trial for a new cancer

treatment that proves so stunningly effective that evaluators are

obliged to end the trial prematurely so that all the participating

patients can share in the new breakthrough. Typically this kind of news

is portrayed as an example of progress, a welcome glimmer of hope.

 

However, some cynics have quietly speculated that the real purpose of

stopping such trials is not to ensure that the few hundred trial

participants who are receiving the current standard treatment are given

access to the new drug, but to massively benefit the drug companies

sponsoring the trial.

 

http://www.cancerdecisions.com/042008.htm [scroll down]

 

RB, " The only 'safe' drug is a NEW one "