Vinay Prasad
Hematologist-oncologist and professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UCSF. Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research from 2025 to 2026. Writes about cancer drugs, clinical-trial evidence and health policy; co-founder of Sensible Medicine.
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What they believe
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It is impossible to determine the specific contribution of a new drug when it is used in combination with a tried and true backbone like chemotherapy.
If you use your novel drug with a tried and true backbone- new drug + chemo- it is impossible to know what <new drug> adds.
drvinayprasad.comSaid 22 Oct 2026This on korrents
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AI models are currently biased towards the liberal epicenters that developed them and favor liberal answers.
AI models are heavily biased towards the liberal epicenters that have developed them, and favor liberal answers.
drvinayprasad.comSaid 19 Oct 2026This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These 2: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 18 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
Each is a — compiled by korrents.com, not by them: the one-line wordings are korrents', the quotes are theirs.
Recent
It is impossible to determine the specific contribution of a new drug when it is used in combination with a tried and true backbone like chemotherapy.
If you use your novel drug with a tried and true backbone- new drug + chemo- it is impossible to know what <new drug> adds.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 22 Oct 2026
A doctor who concludes a new drug must have helped because they have never seen such good responses with chemotherapy alone needs more education.
If you have a doctor who says "I've never seen responses this good with chemo alone, ergo new drug must have helped" That doctor needs more education - or should be recruited as your kol depending on your goal.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 22 Oct 2026
The history of the platform and class and the success rate of the platform and class matters.
The history of the platform and class and success rate of the platform and class matters.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 22 Oct 2026
Show 15 more
AI models are currently biased towards the liberal epicenters that developed them and favor liberal answers.
AI models are heavily biased towards the liberal epicenters that have developed them, and favor liberal answers.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 19 Oct 2026
As model complexity grows, it is very likely that AI will perform even better.
As model complexity grows, it is very likely that AI will do even better.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 19 Oct 2026
For healthy people or those with common conditions, genomic knowledge has little to no practical value.
Yet, Brian is correct that for healthy people (or those with common conditions, e.g. HTN) the answer is: genomic knowledge has little to no practical value.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 15 Oct 2026
The analogy of the human genome being like letters in a book has done a lot of damage.
Ultimately, the idea that the human genome is like the letters in a book that tells you how to build and run a person- that analogy has done a lot of damage.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 15 Oct 2026
The human genome is a moving, living molecule with 3 dimensional interactions that are scarcely understood, rather than being like letters in a book.
DNA is a moving, living molecule with 3 dimensional interactions we can scarcely understand. It is nothing like letters in a book.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 15 Oct 2026
If a cancer treatment passes a phase 3 clinical trial but its mechanism of action is not understood, patients and doctors will still want to use it.
If a phase 3 clinical trial is positive, as Tao postulates, but humans do not understand the mechanism of action that would be level one evidence to administer a therapy. Every cancer patient on Earth would want it. Every doctor would give it.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 10 Oct 2026
Human understanding of how the human body works is extremely limited.
We have a much deeper understanding than we did a hundred years ago, but we don't know if we have understood 5% or 50% or .05%. . We don't even know what we don't know.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 10 Oct 2026
If AI generates a cancer cure that passes a phase 3 randomized control trial despite no one understanding its mechanism, patients will accept it.
If AI generates a cancer combination cure that no one understands, but passes a phase 3 randomized control trial, there's not a single cancer patient on Earth who would say no thank you.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 10 Oct 2026
Many trials intended to inform US practice are unethical because they use control arms that are no longer the standard of care in the US.
Many trials meant to inform the US practice are unethical because the control arm is something we have not done in the US for quite some time- a standard that was already beaten.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 9 Oct 2026
Some people believe they know what works based on mechanistic science and low quality observational studies.
These are people who believe that they know what works based on mechanistic science and low quality observational studies.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 9 Oct 2026
A randomized study comparing day zero hepatitis B vaccination to delayed vaccination for low-risk neonates would be imminently important in the United States.
Such a randomized study would be imminently important in the United States, where this issue is heavily debated, and neither side has gold standard evidence, but the zealotry side uses bizarre arguments.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 9 Oct 2026
The Nobel prizes miss the mark.
It's no secret that I think the Nobel prizes misses the mark.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 6 Oct 2026
Which discoveries matter is ultimately subjective.
My point is just which discoveries matter is ultimately subjective.
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 6 Oct 2026
Nobel winners are smart and also lucky.
Nobel winners aren't the smartest or best they were smart and also lucky
Vinay Prasad’s Observations and Thoughts Said 6 Oct 2026
Current systems are ill-equipped to learn from post-market data.
Our current systems are ill-equipped to learn from post-market data.
Sensible Medicine Said 1 Oct 2026
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Where they publish
Site vinayakkprasad.com Personal site: papers, books and links to his newsletters and channels
Link verified 24 Oct 2026.
Newsletter Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts Near-daily short posts on oncology, trials, AI in medicine and science policy
Link verified 24 Oct 2026.
x.com @VPrasadMDMPH Posts on medicine, evidence and policy
Link verified 24 Oct 2026.
YouTube Vinay Prasad MD MPH Videos and lectures on trials, oncology and medical evidence
Link verified 24 Oct 2026.
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