A drug that works differently from all existing depression drugs just got a big boost

[Linus]

A drug that works differently from all existing depression drugs just got a big boost (Business Insider)

https://www.businessinsider.nl/sage-depression-drug-positive-results-2019-1/?international=true&r=US

 

"On Monday, a new drug for depression got a big lift from positive clinical trial results. Stocks surged on the news. The results the company released this morning “represent essentially a best case scenario,” for the drug, wrote JPMorgans’ Kasimov. "

 

Hmm, let's see, something wrong with this, can't put my finger on it, oh, know I got it: the stock of the company surged because of the positive clinical trial (I guess we will have to trust the company the outcome of the trial was indeed as positive as they say).

 

Who wants some of these new wonder drugs

[ChessieCat]

8 hours ago, Linus said:

I guess we will have to trust the company the outcome of the trial was indeed as positive as they say

 

Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect by Irving Kirsch (link to full article)

Abstract:

Antidepressants are supposed to work by fixing a chemical imbalance, specifically, a lack of serotonin in the brain.  Indeed, their supposed effectiveness is the primary evidence for the chemical imbalance theory.  But analyses of the published data and the unpublished data that were hidden by drug companies reveals that most (if not all) of the benefits are due to the placebo effect.  Some antidepressants increase serotonin levels, some decrease it, and some have no effect at all on serotonin.  Nevertheless, they all show the same therapeutic benefit.  Even the small statistical difference between antidepressants and placebos may be an enhanced placebo effect, due to the fact that most patients and doctors in clinical trials successfully break blind.  The serotonin theory is as close as any theory in the history of science to having been proved wrong.  Instead of curing depression, popular antidepressants may induce a biological vulnerability making people more likely to become depressed in the future.

Excerpt:

How Did These Drugs Get Approved?
....
The FDA requires two adequately conducted clinical trials showing a significant difference between drug and placebo.  But there is a loophole:  there is no limit to the number of trials that can be conducted in search of these two significant trials.  Trials showing negative results simply do not count.  Furthermore, the clinical significance of the findings is not considered.  All that matters is that the results are statistically significant.
....
(NB:  emphasis in abstract and excerpt are mine)

[Altostrata]

Quote

the new drug candidate acts on the brain’s gaba system, in stark contrast to all current medications for depression.

 

What else works on GABA? Benzos, sleep drugs, gabapentin, and pregabalin.

 

This announcement is hype.

[Linus]

11 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

What else works on GABA? Benzos, sleep drugs, gabapentin, and pregabalin.

 

This announcement is hype. 

 

Of course, but has that ever stopped a pharmaceutical company to start poisoning the population.

 

Troubles ahead, I am telling you.