Jerry Avorn, MD

Many people, including a lot of doctors, think that the FDA tests drugs. It doesn't. It doesn't test any drugs. It relies on studies that are submitted to it. Often the manufacturer will set up those studies in a way that will put the drug in the most favorable light.

Many people, including a lot of doctors, think that the FDA tests drugs. It doesn't. It doesn't test any drugs. It relies on studies that are submitted to it. Often the manufacturer will set up those studies in a way that will put the drug in the most favorable light.

Many people, including a lot of doctors, think that the FDA tests drugs. It doesn't. It doesn't test any drugs. It relies on studies that are submitted to it. Often the manufacturer will set up those studies in a way that will put the drug in the most favorable light.

Sure. I think anybody that takes a medication has a number of questions that either they wonder about or they ought to wonder about. One is, does it work and how do we know if it works? The second is, is it safe and how do we know that? What side effects might it cause? The third is, why does it cost what it costs and can I get it for less money?

Sure. I think anybody that takes a medication has a number of questions that either they wonder about or they ought to wonder about. One is, does it work and how do we know if it works? The second is, is it safe and how do we know that? What side effects might it cause? The third is, why does it cost what it costs and can I get it for less money?

Sure. I think anybody that takes a medication has a number of questions that either they wonder about or they ought to wonder about. One is, does it work and how do we know if it works? The second is, is it safe and how do we know that? What side effects might it cause? The third is, why does it cost what it costs and can I get it for less money?

And then there's a whole host of related questions about what are we doing as a nation to try to make sure that we get it right on those issues of does it work? Is it safe? And is this the right price for it?

And then there's a whole host of related questions about what are we doing as a nation to try to make sure that we get it right on those issues of does it work? Is it safe? And is this the right price for it?

And then there's a whole host of related questions about what are we doing as a nation to try to make sure that we get it right on those issues of does it work? Is it safe? And is this the right price for it?

Great question, Mike. And in fact, we do need to wonder about all of those things for a couple of reasons. One is we doctors do the very best we can, but we can only work with the information that is out there and available to us. And for that, we rely on the FDA to tell us whether a drug is effective and safe.

Great question, Mike. And in fact, we do need to wonder about all of those things for a couple of reasons. One is we doctors do the very best we can, but we can only work with the information that is out there and available to us. And for that, we rely on the FDA to tell us whether a drug is effective and safe.

Great question, Mike. And in fact, we do need to wonder about all of those things for a couple of reasons. One is we doctors do the very best we can, but we can only work with the information that is out there and available to us. And for that, we rely on the FDA to tell us whether a drug is effective and safe.

many people including a lot of doctors think that the fda tests drugs it doesn't it doesn't test any drugs to see if they are effective it relies on studies that are submitted to it usually from the manufacturer and one of the more surprising issues is that often the manufacturer will set up those studies in a way that will put the drug in the most favorable light

many people including a lot of doctors think that the fda tests drugs it doesn't it doesn't test any drugs to see if they are effective it relies on studies that are submitted to it usually from the manufacturer and one of the more surprising issues is that often the manufacturer will set up those studies in a way that will put the drug in the most favorable light

many people including a lot of doctors think that the fda tests drugs it doesn't it doesn't test any drugs to see if they are effective it relies on studies that are submitted to it usually from the manufacturer and one of the more surprising issues is that often the manufacturer will set up those studies in a way that will put the drug in the most favorable light

even if it actually turns out not to help people. And we can't blame the physician on the front lines for that because all we can do is rely on the decisions made by the FDA.

even if it actually turns out not to help people. And we can't blame the physician on the front lines for that because all we can do is rely on the decisions made by the FDA.

even if it actually turns out not to help people. And we can't blame the physician on the front lines for that because all we can do is rely on the decisions made by the FDA.

Over the years, FDA has gotten way too loosey-goosey about accepting data that are presented to it by a manufacturer, even when that data does not demonstrate, as it really ought to legally, that the drug is indeed safe and effective.

Over the years, FDA has gotten way too loosey-goosey about accepting data that are presented to it by a manufacturer, even when that data does not demonstrate, as it really ought to legally, that the drug is indeed safe and effective.