There are excellent, proven reasons why we have to a lot of rigorous testing on drugs. Sure it takes a long time, but when it has been properly tested, then it will be valuable to humankind beyond measure, forever. That's worth waiting for and doing it right.

And there are times when the process can be shortened in an an emergency, like Covid. I remember years ago, when they were doing a double-blind test on one of the first successful AIDS drugs, and it became apparent that the new drug was working incredibly well. It made it obvious who had been given the placebo. The new drug was so successful, that they determined that it would be morally wrong to deny it to the others in the test who were getting the placebo, and were continuing to get sicker, so they ended the study and gave everyone the new drug.

[–] realitista@lemmus.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

then it will be valuable to humankind beyond measure, forever.

"....until Martin Shkreli gets the patent and makes it impossible to afford." FTFY

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago

Valid, goddammit.

[–] how_we_burned@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

there are times when the process can be shortened in an an emergency, like Covid.

The core reason why covid RNA vaccines were developed and released far quicker then a normal drug or vaccine is due to the size of the trials, especially the phase I and II trials.

Basically most infectious diseases don't really affect huge amounts of humans. Pandemics are rare.

However on the flip side is that you have small pools of people who are at risk of being infected.

However the covid pandemic massively increased the number of people at risk of being infected, especially those in the phase III trial. Consequently the efficacy of the vaccine could be easily identified.

And there were shit tons of people willing to be part of the testing.

That's why the development got super charged.

That and a huge amount of money (oh and it didn't hurt that the RNA vaccines tech had been in development for years prior. Kinda perfectly positioned for the perfect storm we faced)