Babbage: Change clinical trials and save lives

<p>Clinical trials are the gold standard for testing the safety and efficacy of a treatment or drug, and a keystone in modern medicine. But their <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/02/26/clinical-trials-are-ailing?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">grinding timelines and skyrocketing price tags</a> are hindering development and, ultimately, costing lives.</p><br><p>Natasha Loder, <em>The Economist</em>’s health editor, asks Sir Martin Landray, the boss of Protas, a clinical-trial organisation, what can be learned from his pioneering RECOVERY covid-19 trial. Euan Ashley, a cardiologist at Stanford University, explains how to use <a href="https://www.economist.com/babbagewearables?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">wearable technology</a> to conduct wholly digital clinical trials. Plus, Alejandro Frangi of the University of Leeds says <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/07/01/virtual-clinical-trials-are-on-their-way?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">virtual clinical trials</a> that use computers to model medical interventions can save time and money. Alok Jha, <em>The Economist</em>'s science and technology editor, hosts.</p><br><p>We would love to hear from you. Please fill out our listener survey at <a href="http://economist.com/babbagesurvey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economist.com/babbagesurvey</a>.</p><br><p>For full access to <em>The Economist</em>’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe at <a href="http://www.economist.com