Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3432

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

Hampton JR, Julian DG.
Role of the pharmaceutical industry in major clinical trials.
Lancet 1987 Nov 28; 2:(8570):1258-9

Abstract:

Most large clinical trials are financially supported by the pharmaceutical industry. In general, the less the industry is seen to be involved, the more credible the trial will be. Although most companies behave properly in trials there have been isolated examples of unethical conduct, e.g., trying to prevent publication of unfavourable results. For the trial to be seen as free from interference from the sponsoring company, the data must be handled by an independent data centre. Although the sponsor should not have access to trial data, it has an important role in ensuring that the study is properly run and the data properly collected. The finaly analysis must be done by the investigators independently of the sponsor.

Keywords:
*analysis/drug company sponsored research/SPONSORSHIP: RESEARCH Biomedical Research Clinical Trials*/economics Clinical Trials*/standards Drug Industry* Editorial Policies Ethics Committees, Research Ethics, Pharmacy Financing, Organized Information Dissemination Research Design Social Control, Formal