How to Evaluate Drugs

Abstract

The merchandisers of new pharmaceuticals have three principal features to consider when promoting a new drug: (1) Is it more effective than a competitor against the condition being treated? (2) Is it less costly? (3) Does it exhibit fewer side effects? With the costs of drug development, approval, and marketing continually increasing,¹it is rare to find a new medication that is less expensive than its predecessors. Advertisements in this and similar journals trumpet increased efficacy as the easiest concept to grasp in choosing among new drugs. Unfortunately for the manufacturers, not all new preparations can demonstrate increased potency, enhanced bioavailability, or better clinical results. In some recent cases, fewer adverse reactions are the distinguishing features of newer products. How do you sell a medication that might be more costly, just as effective, and have fewer side effects? Cost-effectiveness analysis offers an answer. This technology compares the health effects