Federal funding for comparative drug studies not in US budget

Isn’t that interesting? We have seen several editorials comparing the added cost of newer, more expensive drugs that are no more effective or safer than drugs currently in use.

The recent ALLHAT study stunned many by showing that the old approach of diuretics for high blood pressure where just as effective as the much more expensive calcium channel blockers and ACE inhibitors. So, at the drug companies’ “urging,” the government has decided they don’t have the money to compare the cost and efficacy of newer drugs to older ones. If it wasn’t our money feeding into the Medicare drug mess it would almost be entertaining… Marwick 328 (7440): 603 –

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