On: Walgreen Sues Theranos, Seeks $140 Million in Dama...

[paulddraper]

> surprised by Theranos’s secrecy—such behavior was to be expected at a tech company but not a medical operation

Is that true? Are tech companies are more secretive than medical research labs?

[QuinnyPig → paulddraper]

They'd almost have to be. "The thing that tells you whether you have cancer or not" is inherently going to need to stand up to regulatory scrutiny in a way that "the thing that lets you send people pictures of your lunch" never will.

[EpicEng → QuinnyPig]

I work at a company which develops prognostic LDT's used in the cancer space. We are incredibly secretive, as are our competitors. It's no different.

[paulddraper → QuinnyPig]

I suppose so. Though they were still in research phase (or maybe bulls--t phase). They hadn't submitted to an FDA review or anything.

[seehafer → paulddraper]

Incorrect. They did submit to FDA review. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c...

They were actively testing people in Arizona for at least several months. Definitely NOT in "research phase"

[walrus01 → paulddraper]

medical research is much more heavily regulated (or at least it's supposed to be) with oversight from federal regulatory agencies poking around inside processes. And the needs of university funded "publish or perish" medical/biosciences. You can develop something like Magic Leap in near total secrecy, not so much advanced medical technology.

[EpicEng → walrus01]

To be pedantic, research isn't heavily regulated. Hell, even getting a CLIA license is a bit of a joke. Once you start selling to the general public however...