NBC goes nuts over Polypill

NBC said it “could be the magic bullet for preventing heart disease and strokes.” They threw up a “BREAKING NEWS” banner even though they acknowledged that each of the five pills in the “polypill” has been “around for a long time.”

The anchor called it “really big.” The NBC medical editor called it “very cool.” Then the anchor amplified by calling it “very promising.”

We call their hyperbole “very premature.”

The story contained none of the caveats contained in an AP story, which concluded:

“It won’t be for everybody,” (one expert) said. Some people would be overtreated by getting medicines for conditions they don’t yet have, such as high cholesterol. Others may be undertreated by too-low doses in the combo pill. Several polypills of different strengths may be needed, he said.

“We have to be cautious about assuming that one size fits all,” (another expert) said. “Treating risk factors is a lot like cooking — the ingredients count.”

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