Replies to post #169586 on Biotech Values

[jq1234]

You medical research folks and biostatisticians tend to see things in more or less black-and-white terms. But clinical practice involves infinite shades of gray.

That's your misinterpretation. Data presented are clear for what the numbers are - they are black and white, 1 is 1, 2 is 2 - but interpretation of data and future implication of the data are grey. As of Tefferi's abstract, neither PGS and I interpreted the data in our replies to you as we simply argued what the actual numbers were - I commented on my own interpretation of data separately to BTH - we just said what the numbers were. You don't like to hear what the numbers are - you want to hear CR means complete resolution of MF according to IWG criteria - so you think we are biased. Could Imelestat do everything for MF in the future, sure, possible, that's people's own interpretation of data, that's not what the data said right now no matter how you argue about it.

[iwfal]

GERN -

You medical research folks and biostatisticians tend to see things in more or less black-and-white terms. But clinical practice involves infinite shades of gray.

I would suggest that it is likely that Jakafi produces substantially better Quality of Life improvement than does Imetelstat (more improvement in the items that matter most and higher percentage of population gets that relief). At least over the duration of the Tefferi test to date. I would further suggest that that is the point you are missing and I/we are trying to get across.


BTW - The argument being made by GERN et al appears to be that if they fix the root cause that that MUST fix the major QoL symptoms. But that is far from certain - as would probably be apparent if we could compare the Jakafi data vs the Imetelstat data on important symptoms effecting QoL. Fixing my broken frig won't unspoil the meat. Fixing my brakes won't unmangle my car.

Might GERN find a different population that reverses the problem of comparison to Jakafi for symptom relief? Or might GERN find that longer treatment allows better improvement in symptoms that matter Certainly they might. But not certain that they will. Hence my point that it will take some time and money to sort that out - and it will take extra time/money if they cannot face the data head on.