This is quite the generalization, plenty of drugs have negative side effects in high doses (see: tylenol). It doesn't mean they aren't still widely useful in small ones. If anything we need to learn more about the drug, just like any other.
> The combination of effects made 516 seem like a promising treatment for what’s known as “metabolic syndrome,” a cluster of symptoms—including obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar—that is a precursor to heart disease and diabetes. More than a third of adult Americans are estimated to have metabolic syndrome, which made 516’s potential profits seem rather attractive.
The dangers of rampant heart disease and type-2 diabetes can't be understated either in this context.
Also the next paragraph notes it only caused cancer in later stages of the mouses life which may translate to 60-70yrs in humans. It's possible there are potential trade offs still at lower doses for people in their 50s at a high risk of dying from heart failure.
> The combination of effects made 516 seem like a promising treatment for what’s known as “metabolic syndrome,” a cluster of symptoms—including obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar—that is a precursor to heart disease and diabetes. More than a third of adult Americans are estimated to have metabolic syndrome, which made 516’s potential profits seem rather attractive.
The dangers of rampant heart disease and type-2 diabetes can't be understated either in this context.
Also the next paragraph notes it only caused cancer in later stages of the mouses life which may translate to 60-70yrs in humans. It's possible there are potential trade offs still at lower doses for people in their 50s at a high risk of dying from heart failure.
Not to mention tweaking the drug itself.