Pharma’s Embarrassing Placebo Problem
To get a drug approved, drug companies only need to show it works better than a placebo. Shouldn't the bar be higher?
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/pharmas-embarrassing-placebo-problem?utm_source=The%20People%27s%20Pharmacy%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=6ec70f90fe-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_03_20_06_30&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7300006d3c-6ec70f90fe-220081977&mc_cid=6ec70f90fe
Examples: Drugs with Minimal Efficacy Over Placebo
The list of drugs that offer only modest improvements over placebo is disturbingly long. Consider the case of antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).
HunDriverWidow
npub1uk…cnsq0
2026-03-20 15:31:07 UTC
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2026-03-20 15:31:07 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "Pharma’s Embarrassing Placebo Problem\n\nTo get a drug approved, drug companies only need to show it works better than a placebo. Shouldn't the bar be higher?\n\nhttps://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/pharmas-embarrassing-placebo-problem?utm_source=The%20People%27s%20Pharmacy%20Newsletter\u0026utm_campaign=6ec70f90fe-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_03_20_06_30\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_term=0_7300006d3c-6ec70f90fe-220081977\u0026mc_cid=6ec70f90fe\n\nExamples: Drugs with Minimal Efficacy Over Placebo\n\nThe list of drugs that offer only modest improvements over placebo is disturbingly long. Consider the case of antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft).",
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