Healthy Skepticism Library item: 565

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

Eckert CH.
Bioequivalence of levothyroxine preparations: industry sponsorship and academic freedom.
JAMA 1997 Apr 16; 277:(15):1200-1

Keywords:
*letter to the editor United States Knoll academic freedom Betty Dong trial design drug company sponsored research industry perspective relationship between researchers, academic institutions and industry ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: ETHICS OF TRIALS INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PUBLICATION SPONSORSHIP: RESEARCH

Notes:

Knoll did not withdraw funding from the study by Dong et al. because it was almost completed when the flaws were discovered. It was Knoll’s concerns about the flaws and the authors’ unwillingness to address them that caused Knoll to refuse permission for publication in 1995. Peer review does not guarantee that a study was properly conducted because comprehensive information about the conduct of the study may not be given to editors and reviewers. Knoll changed its position in 1996 following a meeting with Dong and the chancellor of the University of California at San Francisco during which Knoll gained a better understanding of the importance of supporting academic freedom. Knoll’s current contracting policy allows investigators to publish their results without the prior approval of the company, subject to the company’s right to review prepublication drafts to address intellectual property issues.