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Should regulatory authorities approve drugs based on surrogate endpoints?

When the FDA approved new Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm based on little clinical evidence, experts protested. Yet the Aduhelm controversy is just the latest in a pattern of regulators approving new drugs based on surrogate endpoints rather than clinical outcomes that matter to patients. In The BMJ, Jeanne Lenzer and Shannon Brownlee argue that surrogate endpoints provide no guarantee of clinical benefit and should be used only as a last resort in drug trials. More

Higher Prices for Cancer Surgery at National Cancer Institute–Designated Cancer Centers

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Centers Program, developed as part of the National Cancer Act of 1971, recognizes 71 cancer centers across the US that meet rigorous standards for transdisciplinary and innovative research to develop new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. Although this program was developed to advance cancer research, these cancer centers have an important role in translating scientific knowledge into effective treatments for patients with cancer. Moreover, these cancer centers, nearly all part of academic medical centers, attract top clinician researchers and clinician educators who seek to advance both cancer research and clinical care. More

The Index Explosion

Produced by the Lown Institute, the Lown Institute Hospitals Index ranks hospitals using 42 metrics across three major categories: civic leadership, health outcomes, and care value. By using a comprehensive measure that centers racial and ethnic equity, the Index aims to guide hospitals in providing inclusive care for all populations and help hospitals improve the overall health of their communities. Information is disseminated in the form of an interactive ranking that allows the user to sort and view metrics. Supplemental reports are also available. Data are collected from federal sources including the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and Medicare inpatient data. More

Facing Headwinds on New Alzheimer’s Drug, Biogen Launches Controversial Campaign

Do you sometimes lose your train of thought or feel a bit more anxious than is typical for you? Those are two of the six questions in a quiz on a website co-sponsored by the makers of Aduhelm, a controversial new Alzheimer’s drug. But even when all responses to the frequency of those experiences are “never,” the quiz issues a “talk to your doctor” recommendation about the potential need for additional cognitive testing. More