...............................what happens when causal reasoning is abandoned in repetitive clinical trials testing the effectiveness of an intervention that consistently yields negative results? This has been the invariable fate of anti-amyloid-β (Aβ) drugs. These drugs were designed to eliminate excessive Aβ deposition in the brain of those afflicted with AD. The drug treatment rationale was based on the Aβ hypothesis, also known as the amyloid cascade hypothesis. This concept has been the prevailing but unproven paradigm in explaining AD causality for the last 20 years. Oddly, there have been more than 100 drugs tested in dozens of clinical trials and not one anti-Aβ drug has succeeded in slowing down AD destructive pathology or prevent declining cognition [2].
"The multiple difficulties festering the Aβ hypothesis have been described in countless medical and scientific articles [3]. One lethal blow to the Aβ hypothesis are the numerous clinicopathological studies revealing that heavy brain amyloid deposition does not equate with dementia [3]. Most of the criticisms leveled at the Aβ hypothesis have been largely ignored by big pharma, its supporters, peer reviewers, and granting bodies as if no real challenge could lessen the power of this enduring paradigm. The best that can be said (to paraphrase big pharma executives) is that anti-Aβ therapy display ‘tolerability and safety’ when given to AD patients. But… so does chicken soup.
How do any of these help stop the meltdown of AD?
Let’s play devil’s advocate for the sake of balance. What is wrong with pursuing a failed hypothesis? In the case of Aβ, it has provided jobs and resources for researchers who might not otherwise have had the financial capital to keep their labs open; moreover, such monies from big pharma to investigators could even uncover collateral information that could help clarify the process of neurodegeneration. On the other hand, ethical behavior may have been misplaced in this difficult time of financial hardship that threatens research survival.
However, it is unacceptable, in my judgment, when medical researchers (for whatever reasons) steadfastly hold onto a hypothesis that does not help sick patients in any manner despite being paid to do it. Rationalizing such behavior blocks medical progress resulting in dire consequences for the patients’ clinical outlook. Equally disturbing is the callous effect such conduct has on devaluing the scientific spirit and the search for truth."
by Jack de la Torre, MD, PhD
'via Blog this'
"The multiple difficulties festering the Aβ hypothesis have been described in countless medical and scientific articles [3]. One lethal blow to the Aβ hypothesis are the numerous clinicopathological studies revealing that heavy brain amyloid deposition does not equate with dementia [3]. Most of the criticisms leveled at the Aβ hypothesis have been largely ignored by big pharma, its supporters, peer reviewers, and granting bodies as if no real challenge could lessen the power of this enduring paradigm. The best that can be said (to paraphrase big pharma executives) is that anti-Aβ therapy display ‘tolerability and safety’ when given to AD patients. But… so does chicken soup.
How do any of these help stop the meltdown of AD?
Let’s play devil’s advocate for the sake of balance. What is wrong with pursuing a failed hypothesis? In the case of Aβ, it has provided jobs and resources for researchers who might not otherwise have had the financial capital to keep their labs open; moreover, such monies from big pharma to investigators could even uncover collateral information that could help clarify the process of neurodegeneration. On the other hand, ethical behavior may have been misplaced in this difficult time of financial hardship that threatens research survival.
However, it is unacceptable, in my judgment, when medical researchers (for whatever reasons) steadfastly hold onto a hypothesis that does not help sick patients in any manner despite being paid to do it. Rationalizing such behavior blocks medical progress resulting in dire consequences for the patients’ clinical outlook. Equally disturbing is the callous effect such conduct has on devaluing the scientific spirit and the search for truth."
by Jack de la Torre, MD, PhD
'via Blog this'
No comments:
Post a Comment