Yes, because a drug may be beneficial to a small proportion of people who are responders, present study designs may dilute results due to the non-responders. The authors of a recent study suggest the use of a study design called enriched enrolment with randomised withdrawal, EERW. In this study design, subjects are tried on a drug first, and only those who have a positive response are then randomised to study it further.

H.J. McQuay et al. Enriched enrolment with randomised withdrawal (EERW): Time for a new look at clinical trial design in chronic pain. Pain 2008. Volume 135. Pp. 217-220.

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