The use of mechanistic evidence in drug approval. Issue 5 (11th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aronson, Jeffrey K.; La Caze, Adam; Kelly, Michael P.; Parkkinen, Veli‐Pekka; Williamson, Jon
• Is Part Of: Journal of evaluation in clinical practice. Volume 24:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 1166
• Page End: 1176
• Publication Date: 2018-06-11
• Subjects: causality -- epistemology -- evaluation -- evidence‐based medicine -- philosophy of medicine; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1111/jep.12960
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-1294

Abstract

Abstract: The role of mechanistic evidence tends to be under‐appreciated in current evidence‐based medicine (EBM), which focusses on clinical studies, tending to restrict attention to randomized controlled studies (RCTs) when they are available. The EBM+ programme seeks to redress this imbalance, by suggesting methods for evaluating mechanistic studies alongside clinical studies. Drug approval is a problematic case for the view that mechanistic evidence should be taken into account, because RCTs are almost always available. Nevertheless, we argue that mechanistic evidence is central to all the key tasks in the drug approval process: in drug discovery and development; assessing pharmaceutical quality; devising dosage regimens; assessing efficacy, harms, external validity, and cost‐effectiveness; evaluating adherence; and extending product licences. We recommend that, when preparing for meetings in which any aspect of drug approval is to be discussed, mechanistic evidence should be systematically analysed and presented to the committee members alongside analyses of clinical studies.