The paper in the Lancet by the ex-FDA official had a fascinating figure in it. The reason it's fascinating is that it showed how vicious Gamma really is (chart B).
The reason this is of interest is that the TOGETHER trial took place in Brazil, during a period of very high prevalence of the Gamma variant. bmj.com/content/374/bm…
As such, attempting to compare results from that trial, with other studies elsewhere is bound to show worse results. Vaccines show 10-20% worse performance against gamma than alpha.
When I first heard @PierreKory mention that to treat people with symptoms and comorbidities, people likely infected with Gamma, was outrageous, I didn't focus much on him calling Gamma particularly vicious. But this diagram definitely makes his point.
I dont think the TOGETHER trial was executed badly, or that there is fraud in the numbers or anything like that. What concerns me is more subtle. Here are some potential concerns, and I'd appreciate if anyone can tell me why I should not worry about specific ones.
Potential concern 1: Exclusion criteria does not include taking IVM.

Not sure if it was left out by mistake, or not mentioned, but in Brazil, where IVM is available over the counter, and promoted as effective on COVID, you must assume some people will take it? What am I missing?
Potential concern 2: giving a dose that was lower than what the proponents suggested in general, and for Gamma in particular, so the results were going to be controversial no matter what. Why not try a dose that proponents claim works, so that the results can settle the matter?
Potential concern 3: the principal investigator showed results without the paper being available, preventing any useful context from being added to the results. Some have been criticizing preprints, this isn't even that.
Potential concern 4: Allowing media and pundits to present the study as a "null" result, when the authors themselves computed that the chances of IVM being better than placebo were 76%. This makes getting the slides out ahead of the paper more suspect.
Overall, I don't understand why we can't do a large-scale trial, in early treatment, on a protocol actually advocated for by proponents of IVM, so we can make progress on the question. As things are, we lend credence to a feeling that *something is wrong*, which.. doesn't help us

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More from @alexandrosM

15 Sep
Wait till they hear Darwin write the "Origin of the Species" without getting a PhD first.
I even heard he did his own research. Why did he hate science?
It didn't even get peer reviewed. Basically a preprint.
Read 4 tweets
14 Sep
Did Robert Malone invent mRNA vaccines?

This🧵will answer from first principles, a question that comes up surprisingly often in pandemic-related conversations.

As always, I'll give you the primary sources and my reasoning so you can take my answer apart and put yours together.
First, a caveat: You may have noticed that me and Dr. Malone have shared good words for each other. All that was *after* my original investigation thread that this one will polish and complete. Regardless, the case made should not require you to trust me.
We'll be focusing on the claim as seen on Dr Malone's Twitter profile: "Inventor of mRNA vaccines". To get there, first we need to define what it means to invent something. After all, battles over who the "real" inventor of something is have some times carried on for decades.
Read 58 tweets
13 Sep
This reads far fetched but I've come to believe it points to an uncomfortable truth. There are two mindsets for the future of humanity: one where we rely on control systems to keep things "stable", and one where we rely on enablement systems to do what life does: grow and grow.
The "control" mindset is not just in communism, and it's not just in sustainability circles. Many of the world's top capitalists espouse it as well. It starts from a lack of faith in humanity. The problem? It creates zero-sum games, which bring out the worst in humanity.
When Eric Weinstein talks about the "embedded growth obligation" baked into "the system", I think he misunderstands where it comes from. The obligation to grow is fundamental to life. No species has fought it and remained alive. Chesterton's fence suggests we shouldn't either.
Read 14 tweets
13 Sep
This sounds.. like a big deal. Any native speakers who can confirm context and translation?
Content is in doubt as per the response below. Probably best to get an uncut recording before further conclusions.
See whole translation from @NoSpoon11 below. Also gives further insight into possible rationale.
Read 4 tweets
12 Sep
The responsibility for the expert conversation being had in public is solely with the godfather figures of "The Science" who have shut down any opposing voice within academia. We trusted them, they failed us, it's over. Public conversation is the only trustworthy conversation.
No discussion of responsibility of any expert having public conversation can begin before total condemnation of those who shat on the hard won commons, forged fake consensus, and then have the gall to lecture about appropriate messaging.
And it's not like their curated, top down, fully taxpayer funded, expert seal of approval sensemaking is much better.
Read 4 tweets
12 Sep
Tonight's FLCCC donation campaign is in the honor our latest reading resistant variant, @Semple521. As usual, when I get roped in and waste my time on a dishonest actor, I donate to the @Covid19Critical and invite everyone else to, to make some good come of it regardless.
If you feel like making trolling a bit less attractive by supporting a good cause, you can make your donation here: covid19criticalcare.com/network-suppor…
Here's mine: Image
Read 9 tweets

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