8 Comments
User's avatar
Allison's avatar

I am not a fan of prediction markets. No good can come from them and their ability to influence anything they are involved in - politics, research, etc. In my opinion, they should be banned.

Ernest N. Curtis's avatar

Another source of corruption ---not a great idea. They say some people will bet on anything. I wouldn't have bet on this one.

Steve Cheung's avatar

Insider trading…predatory market manipulation….what could possibly go wrong.

There is a limit to the utility of wisdom of the crowds…and this is one of them.

Benjamin Hourani's avatar

I couldn’t agree more with Dr. Windisch-medical studies leave much to be desired at the present time – adding prediction markets will only create further predictable and unpredictable issues – it will compound the confounders-

The financial markets were once defined as “perfect competition“. That means that everyone had the same information, and no one in theory had an advantage over someone else – that is laughable now, and the markets are closer to a casino– keep research, with all of it’s warts as highlighted at SM, at least

attempting to seek out the truth –

Ben Hourani MBA

Paul Windisch, MD's avatar

If clinical trial prediction markets were already a thing and you were trying to make money by being correct (especially where others are wrong) - what trials would you be betting on and what strategies would you be using?

The Diagnostic Detective's avatar

A very well thought out post, Paul, I'm sure you are correct. In a selfish world I would bet on (1) non-inferiority of any trial comparing any two anti-retrovirals from different classes to standard of care in patients with suppressed HIV (there's only ever been one exception to this rule). (2) any randomised trial of a new diagnostic having no effect on patient relevant outcomes- very few exceptions to this rule. https://thediagnosticdetective.substack.com/p/why-randomised-trials-of-diagnostic

Paul Windisch, MD's avatar

Thank you, that's a very interesting point (and so is your article)! I just posted a separate comment for others to talk about the strategies that they would use if clinical trials prediction markets were already a thing.

Gene's avatar

Fear and greed drive the market. Don’t chase trends. Even in clinical trials/studies.