Research and evaluation

SARS-CoV2 antivirals are essential, but they are not silver bullets

The UK government's 'living with COVID-19' policy is relying too much on antiviral treatments, but now is not the time to relax.…

More than a quarter of patients overusing rescue inhalers for asthma, study finds 

Researchers from Queen Mary University London warned that salbutamol inhalers can increase risk of anxiety and tachycardia.…

Whole-genome sequencing is ‘feasible’ for screening in primary care, research suggests

Presenting their findings, study authors said genomic sequencing in primary care could change the way patients and their families are managed by GPs.…

Research suggests that molnupiravir is effective against Omicron variant

Laboratory research results suggest that antivirals remain effective against the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus, but monoclonal antibodies lose potency against it.…

Transparency over negative results in antidepressant trials is improving, data show

Analysis of trial data shows that there has been an increase in reporting of negative outcomes in antidepressant trials, from 11% in trials published between 1987 and 2002 to 47% in research published between 2008 and 2013.…

Break in cancer treatment cuts side effects and does not affect life expectancy, study finds

A trial has shown that breaks from first-line treatments for patients with metastatic and/or locally advanced kidney cancer did not cause meaningful detriment to their life expectancy or quality of life.…

Why it is too soon to celebrate the Alzheimer’s ‘wonder drug’

The US approval of aducanumab — the first disease-modifying drug for Alzheimer’s disease — based on a trial with a surrogate endpoint, has caused quite a stir. Here we look at the controversy and what the approval might mean for Alzheimer’s research.…

Critical appraisal: how to evaluate research for use in clinical practice

The ability to make appropriate evidence-based decisions in clinical practice relies on pharmacists having the skills to extract and translate the most relevant and useful information from published literature.…

NHS DigiTrials: how the search for COVID-19 treatments is revolutionising clinical trials

The UK health service’s data-led approach to trials has helped to save millions of lives from COVID-19 worldwide — here’s how the NHS is setting an exciting new blueprint for all clinical trials.…

Knowing how to read research papers makes us better pharmacists, so I started a journal club

When she noticed that colleagues were uncomfortable with research papers, meaning they were locked out of clinical conversations, community pharmacist Iqra Sarwar took action.…