Patient Advocacy Organizations (PAOs) Thrilled With Biogen’s Aduhelm Approval As Northeastern and Yale Experts Call for Revised Scope of PAOs

Patient advocacy groups (PAOs) look to drugs receiving accelerated approval from the Food and Drug Administration, such as the contentious Aduhelm approval, with hope. However, Northeastern University’s Michael Sinha and Yale University’s Stephen Latham believe that PAOs need to be more discerning in their support, with an eye to cost-effectiveness and efficacy.

“As the FDA expands its consideration of the patient perspective in drug development, refocused objectives are needed. The paradigm must be shifted from “any drug at any cost” to “the best drug at the right cost.” Patient advocacy organizations must demand more, both from the pharmaceutical industry and from the FDA.” Read more here.

(Source: Michael Sinha and Stephen Latham, STAT News, 7/23/21)