Category: Clinical Trials

The Polypill Comes of Age

The polypill is effective for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. By combining drugs in a single pill, it improves convenience and compliance.

/ September 20, 2022

Does Vitamin D Prevent Autoimmune Disease?

A new study published in The BMJ suggests vitamin D might prevent autoimmune disease, but there are reasons to be cautious.

/ September 13, 2022
SARS-CoV-2

Peer review fail: Vaccine publishes antivax propaganda disguised as “reanalyses” of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial data

In order portray COVID-19 vaccines as dangerous, Peter Doshi has now managed to get poorly designed and performed "reanalyses" of the clinical trial data used by the FDA to grant emergency use approval of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines published in two reputable journals, The BMJ and Vaccine? What happened?

/ September 5, 2022

PreP for HIV/AIDS

Two pills and an injection are FDA-approved to prevent HIV infection. Not enough patients and providers know about them.

/ August 30, 2022

Is Olive Oil Good Medicine?

A study found that olive oil increased longevity and reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases, but it only showed correlation, not causation.

/ August 23, 2022

A Desperate Choice

A therapy for brain tumors in young children involves deliberately infecting them with a virus. Scary, and is it worth it?

/ July 26, 2022

Statistical Shenanigans?

The manufacturers of Covid-19 vaccines say they are 95% effective. Peter Doshi re-examined the evidence and estimates they are only 19-29% effective. This pre-print of an as-yet unpublished re-analysis raises many questions but doesn't support the claims being made on antivaccine sites.

/ July 5, 2022

Apples, Oranges, and How Not to Analyze a Vaccine RCT

The evidence is overwhelming that COVID vaccines keep people alive and out of the hospital. Only someone who starts with the conclusion that vaccines don't work and then works backwards to find the evidence could claim otherwise.

/ July 4, 2022

Homeopathy and Pre-Registered Trials

Preregistering clinical trials is a great idea, but we have to actually track registration.

/ May 18, 2022

Plenity – A New Weight Loss Pill

Plenity is a new weight loss pill designed to create a sense of fullness. It is backed by a single study where users had an average weight loss of 22 pounds. Not an effective way to achieve ideal weight, but may help some people when combined with diet and exercise.

/ May 10, 2022