Oral multiple sclerosis drug shows promise
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Rating
Oral multiple sclerosis drug shows promise
Our Review Summary
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.
Why This Matters
Studies on two MS drugs were published in NEJM this week. Why did the LA Times blog feature only one?
Criteria
Not Satisfactory
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.
Not Satisfactory
Again, only one drug was mentioned and benefits given in only relative terms.
Not Satisfactory
This was a major shortcoming of this piece: harms were never mentioned. They were emphasized – even headlined – in the AP story.
Not Satisfactory
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.
Satisfactory
No disease-mongering in this story.
Satisfactory
The story used at least one independent source.
Not Satisfactory
Inadequate job on this – in that it didn’t even mention another drug reported on in the same issue of the NEJM.
Satisfactory
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."
Not Satisfactory
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.
Satisfactory
It’s clear that the story did not rely on a news release.
Total Score: 4 of 10 Satisfactory
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