Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3325

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Blum AL, Chalmers TC, Deutsch E, Koch-weser J, Langman M, Rosen A, Tygstrup N, Zentgraf R.
Differing attitudes of industry and academia towards controlled clinical trials
European Journal of Clinical Investigation 1986; 16:455-460

Abstract:

A consensus conference was held in 1984 on controversial issues concerning controlled clinical trials. Thirty-six individuals working in academic institutions, forty-six in industry and twelve in regulatory authorities participated. Academics accepted and industrial representatives rejected the following: existing regulations cannot cope with the rate at which new treatments develop; drug companies may be reluctant to undertake surveillance programmes because sales will fall if adverse reactions are detected; novel remedies should not be promoted before
extensive post-marketing surveillance; third parties should finance trials promising to reduce the costs of illness and trialists should be separated from sponsors in data analysis and interpretation, the investigator owning the data unless stated otherwise. Industrial representatives supported and academics rejected the following: government price control inhibits drug development and a multicentre trial can be justified simply by the wish to speed drug registration.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/clinical trials/postmarketing research/corporate funding/drug company sponsored research/editorial freedom/regulatory authorities/PROMOTION DISGUISED: POSTMARKETING RESEARCH/SPONSORSHIP: RESEARCH