LA Times blog headline: "Oral multiple sclerosis drug shows promise."
AP story headline: "MS pills show promise and risk."
Two huge differences should jump out at you. AP mentioned pills – plural – because two drugs were reported on in this week’s NEJM. And AP mentioned risks right along with harms.
The blog entry ran only 305 words, compared with more than 700 for the AP story. We needed the extra words because they provided needed context and balance.
Studies on two MS drugs were published in NEJM this week. Why did the LA Times blog feature only one?
No costs were mentioned. The story could have at least mentioned what is the cost of the drug when now used to treat hairy cell leukemia.
Again, only one drug was mentioned and benefits given in only relative terms.
This was a major shortcoming of this piece: harms were never mentioned. They were emphasized – even headlined – in the AP story.
For whatever reason, the LA Times chose to write about only one of the two oral MS drugs described in studies in the New England Journal of Medicine this week. AP reported on both. For this reason, we grade this unsatisfactory.
The story used at least one independent source.
Inadequate job on this – in that it didn’t even mention another drug reported on in the same issue of the NEJM.
One strength of this story, in comparison with the AP and NPR story we reviewed, is that it stated: "The drug company MD Serono, an affiliate of Merck, has requested approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market the tablet. However it recently received a "refuse to file" letter from the FDA, which means the agency is requiring additional information or data. MD Serono said it is pursuing the matter with the FDA and hopes to re-submit its application."
Given that this story reported on only of the two oral drugs being tested for MS that were described in the NEJM this week, we think the paper overemphasized the novelty of the one it chose to highlight.
It’s clear that the story did not rely on a news release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
Puleeeeease... this 'game changer' weight loss drug causes more nausea and vomiting than a placebo. Some game, some change. My friend Gary would spank you for using the eighth word medical reporters should never, ever use. @garyschwitzer @thackerpd
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/toolkit/just-journalists-writing-tips-case-studies/7-words-and-more-you-shouldnt-use-in-medical-news/ https://twitter.com/OttawaCitizen/status/1361426796126830597
A scary @statnews Op-Ed warns that govt attempts to rein in Pharma may cut off access to "life-changing" drugs.
It takes @garyschwitzer to let us know: the author spent 10 years as Pfizer's public-policy chief. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1360325022578053123
.@TranspariMED criticizes STAT op-ed for not disclosing pharma funding of author’s institute - similar to criticism we’ve made of STAT op-eds in the past. @transparify @ThinkTankWatch @icer_review https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/02/transparency-watchdog-criticizes-stats-non-disclosure-on-pro-pharma-op-ed/
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