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Tuesday, June 17, 2003Yesterday, researchers at the psychiatric meetings presented a study of the cost effectiveness of Zyprexa in treating patients at 17 Veterans Affairs medical centers. The study, led by Dr. Robert Rosenheck, a professor of psychiatry and public health at Yale and the director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Northeast Program Evaluation Center, found that Zyprexa cost the V.A. $3,000 to $9,000 more per patient, with no benefit to symptoms, Parkinson's-like side effects or overall quality of life. Zyprexa was less likely to produce the physical restlessness called akisthesia, the study found, and was associated with slightly better memory and motor skills. The study was financed by Eli Lilly. And here’s what the author of that study said in its defense after Goldberg accused the Times of mischaracterizing it as a study since it was only presented at a meeting: This is erroneous information. The study was submitted to JAMA on May 5 in full paper form that had been reviewed in depth by both VA researchers and members of the Eli Lilly Corporation — the corporation that indeed did finance the study. ....I made it clear at the beginning of the presentation both verbally and through a written slide that the study had been submitted for publication and that the presentation of results could change somewhat after it is revised for final publication... [But the New York Times didn't make it clear that the results could change -ed.] And the response of the New York Times: The research was submitted to the Journal of the American Medical Association on May 5. This was fifteen days before Ms. Goode's article appeared. You may verify this fact independently by contacting JAMA directly. So, the media can report the results of a study before it’s been peer-reviewed. That certainly is a violation of the spirit of the JAMA embargo. For all we know, the study could have been badly done, or the data exaggerated. Who can possibly judge? And has JAMA slapped the wrist of the Times reporter like they did the Detroit Free Press reporter? Somehow, I doubt it. posted by Sydney on 6/17/2003 08:39:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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