Comparative effectiveness research | Arthritis Information

 

Interesting take on the  health care implications of the new stimulus package....

I love this blog and agree with this (from the blog) :
"Why is CER so important?  When the FDA evaluates a new treatment, they do not require that the company compare the new treatment to existing treatments.  Clinical trials often have many layers of complexity.  As I have observed new drugs over the years, the pharmaceutical company can always find a reason that we should use the new drug.

As a physician I really want unbiased comparative data.  I love new drugs, when they provide a significant advance over older drugs.  Without CER we can only guess about the relative benefit of a new drug, or a new diagnostic technique, or a new operation.

I understand the worry about directing medical decision making, and I reject that worry.  We need the best possible data to make good medical decisions.  CER will provide us with such data."

 - BUT, be careful what you 'wish' for when it comes to RA meds.  How many trials from the mouths of big pharma have outcomes with only a 10% or so difference between the med and the placebo?  What if their new CER data shows there isn't a significant advance over older drugs?   

I have longed for this type of comparative data ever since my daughter was dx'd.  I welcome it, as I would feel much more informed about the next steps we will take.  But if she had already failed several meds, and we were left waiting for new ones to be developed that she could try, this would scare the hell out of me.
Suzanne2009-02-14 09:48:19how does that help the economy now?   stimulus package my butt babs102009-02-14 09:58:19[QUOTE=babs10]how does that help the economy now?   stimulus package my butt [/QUOTE]