Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

> if there is already a drug that cures 75% of cancers and a new drug cures 85%, a clinical trial to detect that 10% difference will require a lot more people (and cost a lot more money).

That makes sense. Thank you.

> Additionally cost-efficiency is not a valid reason to allow a new drug (according to the FDA), you've got to be better than the last one.

Really? I did not know that. On the face of it, that seems absurd. If Treatment A cures at a 75% rate and costs $1M and Treatment B cures at a 72% rate (worse) and costs $10, it seems as if it would still be valuable to the market, no? Or am I mis-reading you?




You are correctly reading me.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: