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Member of FDA's Expert Panel Resigns Over Controversial Alzheimer's Therapy Approval

posted by Fnord666 on Friday June 11 2021, @08:33AM   Printer-friendly
from the I-quit! dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

Member of FDA’s expert panel resigns over Alzheimer’s therapy approval:

Following the Food and Drug Administration's polarizing authorization of the Alzheimer's therapy Aduhelm on Monday, a member of an agency advisory committee that recommended against the drug's approval has resigned.

Neurologist Joel Perlmutter of Washington University in St. Louis, a member of the FDA's expert panel for nervous system therapies, told STAT in an email that he had quit the committee on Monday "due to this ruling by the FDA without further discussion with our advisory committee."

The advisory committee, which convened in November, couldn't have been more openly skeptical of the drug, also known as aducanumab. Ten of the 11 panelists found that there was not enough evidence to show it could slow cognitive decline. The 11th voted "uncertain."

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  • (Score: 2) by darkfeline on Friday June 11 2021, @08:17PM (2 children)

    by darkfeline (1030) on Friday June 11 2021, @08:17PM (#1144372) Homepage

    I'd guess that a lot of insanely rich old men are worried and are willing to try anything that might work. That would also explain the price tag.

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  • (Score: 2) by looorg on Friday June 11 2021, @08:59PM

    by looorg (578) on Friday June 11 2021, @08:59PM (#1144389)

    I don't or wouldn't blame them. If I was in their shoes, had their resources and said affliction I would try anything to. There is probably no "cure" I wouldn't try if it came down to it.

    But it doesn't change that the price-tag is ludicrous and insane. Or that the FDA have apparently approved a drug that nobody appears to believe in and it seems very doubtful that it will actually work. At best it appears to be a 56k dollar (per year) placebo. Perhaps their massive influx of cash will do something good and fuel further research, but it doesn't really change how f*cked this appears to be. If anything it might just have fed the executive coke and hooker party for a few more years.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 12 2021, @02:25PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 12 2021, @02:25PM (#1144572)

    If only... The same corruption that got this bill passed will get it covered by medicare. So everybody can have their $56,000 sugar-pill.

    And you'll be the one paying for it; directly through higher taxes to cover the 'healthcare costs of the needy and elderly' (doesn't that just make you feel all warm and cozy on the inside?), and indirectly through paying more for everything as we continue printing money to no end sending inflation up, up, and away.