This is a great article by Dr Ebers, that outlines what MS neurologists see in their offices on a daily basis.
Patients with EDSS scores of 3.0 and 4.5 or 5.0, for example, are hardly included in phase 3 clinical trials and even if they are, their outcomes are not elucidated (1) in the results and discussion section of the published data for each drug. I think it is not just a matter of flawed analysis, the data are probably left out or cherry-picked. The consequence is that when patients begin to worsen and disability begins to accumulate, particularly in the African-American (AA) population with MS, the odds are more than likely that the slide will continue; add to this the low percentage of AAs enrolled in phase 3 clinical trials and we have literally zero answers to their questions if the drugs they are on are working.
Jagannadha Avasarala, MD, PhD
Greenville Health System, SC
Reference
Avasarala JR. J of Clini Pharmacol 2015; 55(11): 1218-1220.
Comments
This is a great article by Dr Ebers, that outlines what MS neurologists see in their offices on a daily basis.
Patients with EDSS scores of 3.0 and 4.5 or 5.0, for example, are hardly included in phase 3 clinical trials and even if they are, their outcomes are not elucidated (1) in the results and discussion section of the published data for each drug. I think it is not just a matter of flawed analysis, the data are probably left out or cherry-picked. The consequence is that when patients begin to worsen and disability begins to accumulate, particularly in the African-American (AA) population with MS, the odds are more than likely that the slide will continue; add to this the low percentage of AAs enrolled in phase 3 clinical trials and we have literally zero answers to their questions if the drugs they are on are working.
Jagannadha Avasarala, MD, PhD
Greenville Health System, SC
Reference
Avasarala JR. J of Clini Pharmacol 2015; 55(11): 1218-1220.