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Biotech / Medical : PFE (Pfizer) How high will it go? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Perry who wrote (3842)	7/1/1998 9:40:00 AM
From: DaiS	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9523

Perry, >> BTW your argument on the death rate needs some more thought. All one can do in research is to compare similar population groups with and without the test compound and see whether there is a statistically significant difference >> And in fact if the test groups are subdivided according to other criteria (eg with and without diabetes) in my example there would be a highly significant statistical interaction between the treatment (+ or - viagra) and the group categorisation (+ or - diabetes). Just making the monofactorial comparison between two treatment groups would be extremely unambitious scientifically if you had taken the trouble to study 2000 men. Well I have to admit that I have not seen nor studied the Pfizer reports to the regulators, but I think that the scientific publications to not provide information as to whether interactions involving the group categorisations are significant or not - correct me if I am wrong. I would like to see and have time to study the full evidence. >>All one can do in research is to compare similar population groups with and without the test compound>> On this specific point, there is alternative non-statistical approach. You can take each man that has died, do an autopsy and a scientific investigation of this individual to establish precisely why he died - a mechanistic approach for this individual. The approach could involve theoretical considerations of the effect of the drug given it's structure - is it a poison - and so on. The hypothesis as to causes of death that receive support from the scientific investigation are supported independently of any statistical analyses of mortalities within large groups. You apply this approach again and again to each man that dies and thereby gain knowledge of the effects of viagra. Well, I think that this might be done only with time because you need many men to take the drug. I am not suggesting that it must be done, only suggesting that it exists as an alternative. DaiS