We were conducting a trial for a painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) drug and were investigating why one site had an especially high placebo response rate. Then one of our representatives, waiting in the site’s lobby to meet with the principal investigator, pinpointed the likely reason when a patient walked in the door. “Mrs. Jones,” the...
Between 7 and 10 percent of the U.S. population suffers from some type of neuropathic pain, and a significant share of those affected require chronic pain treatment.[1] This high rate of occurrence makes our limited understanding of these afflictions, and the long search for effective treatments, all the more frustrating. Treating neuropathic pain starts with...
We were reviewing a study protocol for a maker of medical devices, and there was one provision that just didn’t make sense. The sponsor specified a need for regular data monitoring committee meetings, but we didn’t see the need and couldn’t justify the effort. It was a short study involving few sites. In all likelihood,...