Recent research indicates that two popular arthritis drugs

Recent research indicates that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed.

Since the research does not indicate "two popular drugs", nor indicates "the safety" => that is required.

A. that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed
B. that two popular arthritis drugs may not be as safe as they were initially believed to be

"they" in A has not clear reference, who is "they"? It cannot be the drugs because the drugs cannot "belive"
In B they correctly refers to the drugs:

may not be as safe as they (the drugs) were initially believed to be

B is the correct answer

I like Option B.

It seems to be using the right phrase " believed to be.." and also the correct plural form "..as they were..." for the two drugs. Looking forward to the OA to know for sure!

Whenever you use comparison marker “as .... as”, always see if there is comparison between two similar structure.
For eg. Clause 1 as ... as Clause 2 or
Pharse 1 as ... as Phrase 2 or
Noun 1 as .... as Noun 2
A – ‘they’ refers to drugs. In this option ‘believed’ is not used as ed-modifier. Hence, ‘believed’ is used as a verb. The meaning in this scenario turns out to be – drugs initially believed – this is wrong! Drugs cannot believe!
B – this option correctly uses idiom ‘believed to be’
C – main verb of hte sentence is to indicate. This verb will require ‘that’. Additionally, we are joining two clauses – 1. Recent study indicates. 2. Two druges are not safe. Hence we need ‘that’ to join two clauses.
D – Same error as in C. ‘it’ rightly refers to safety. However, it uses wrong idiom – believe (without to be).
E – Same error as in C. ‘they’ a plural pronoun has no plural antecedent. Thoug, it uses right idiom – believe to be.

Recent research indicates that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed.

A. that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed . In this active voice, no antecedent for "they". Note: "they" can't refer to drugs. as drugs can't believe.
B. that two popular arthritis drugs may not be as safe as they were initially believed to be
C. two popular arthritis drugs to possibly not be as safe as it was initially believed. that is required to connect
D. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs may not be as great as it was initially believed. that is required to connect
E. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs not to be as great as they were initially believed to be. that is required to connect

Note: possibly and not both are adverbs. Although, we can use two adverb but here "may (verb) not (adverb) sounds more logical.
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Recent research indicates that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed.

A. that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed "they" has no antecedent. Eliminate.

B. that two popular arthritis drugs may not be as safe as they were initially believed to be Correct answer - "they" here refers to the drugs.

C. two popular arthritis drugs to possibly not be as safe as it was initially believed Need "that" for reported speech ("research indicates that"), else it implies that the research indicates the drugs itself, which is illogical. Eliminate.

D. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs may not be as great as it was initially believed Same error as in (C) - research does not indicate "safety" but the idea that the drugs may not be safe. Eliminate.

E. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs not to be as great as they were initially believed to be Same error as in (D). Eliminate.

Hope this helps.
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egmat,

Although I marked B. I just want to understand my reasoning is right or wrong.

in option A
Here basically we are saying drugs are not as safe as we believed. so we are using comparison marker As safe as. right hand side is not an clause but left side is having a clause and both should be parallel. Please clarify

Thanks

Recent research indicates that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed.

A. that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed - Missing were and to be
B. that two popular arthritis drugs may not be as safe as they were initially believed to be - Correct
C. two popular arthritis drugs to possibly not be as safe as it was initially believed - Indicate that is the correct idiomatic usage
D. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs may not be as great as it was initially believed Indicate that is the correct idiomatic usage
E. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs not to be as great as they were initially believed to be Indicate that is the correct idiomatic usage
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Recent research indicates that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed.

A. that two popular arthritis drugs are possibly not as safe as they initially believed -- what does they refer to , the only plural antecdent is drugs --illogical
B. that two popular arthritis drugs may not be as safe as they were initially believed to be - Correct
C. two popular arthritis drugs to possibly not be as safe as it was initially believed -- that is needed after indicates ; what does it refer to here ?
D. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs may not be as great as it was initially believed - same as C ; also the construction the safety of ... is redundant
E. the safety of two popular arthritis drugs not to be as great as they were initially believed to be - that is needed after indicates

e.g.
the safety of X is not as great as ...
vs.
X is not as safe as ...
the latter of these is definitely better

Answer B
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in some official answers , "that" dose not appear. so, I think gmat prefer "that" over zero "that"

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