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More than half of new cancer drugs may not work

Published

7 years ago

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More than half of new cancer drugs may not work

More than half of new cancer drugs may not work

People suffering from cancer, be cautious!

According to a recent study, half of the cancer drugs that have recently arrived on the market have come with little evidence that they boost the survival or well-being of patients.

The researchers found that of cancer drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) between 2009 and 2013, 57 % (39/68) had no supporting evidence of better survival or quality of life when they entered the market.

After an average of five years of follow up, only half had shown a survival or quality of life gain over existing treatments or placebo. 

Of the 23 drugs with a survival benefit that could be scored with a validated tool, only 11 (48 %) were judged to offer a clinically meaningful benefit, they added. Author Huseyin Naci, assistant professor in LSE’s Department of Health Policy, said, “It is remarkable that so few cancer drugs enter the European market without any clear data on outcomes that matter to patients and their doctors: longer survival and better quality of life. There is a clear need to raise the bar for approving new cancer drugs.”

Dr Courtney Davis, a medical and political sociologist in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s, added, “We evaluated the evidence base for all new drugs entering the market over a five year period and found that the majority came onto the market without clear evidence that they improved patients’ survival or quality of life.” 

The author concluded, “Nice makes these decisions based on the clinical effectiveness and the cost of a drug to determine whether it will bring value to patients and the NHS.” The study was published in The British Medical Journal.

 

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Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

Published

2 years ago

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May 4, 2022

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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