Healthy Skepticism Library item: 667

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

Lexchin J.
Is there a bias in industry supported clinical research
Can J Clin Pharmacol 1995; 2:15-18

Abstract:

Pharmaceutical companies in Canada and the United States are now the single largest direct funders of medical research. Questions have been raised about possible bias in industry funded clinical research. This review was undertaken to try and answer the following three questions: what is the overall methodologic quality of industry supported clinical research?; is there evidence of bias in the type of research and the outcome of research that industry funds?; does industry funding interfere with the publication of the results of clinical research? A search of the author’s personal library of over 2,000 items plus a MEDLINE and HEALTH search identified a total of ten articles relevant to the questions under consideration. Six articles dealt with the methodologic quality but there was no clear consensus about whether industry supported trials tended to be of poorer quality. Three trials looked at the question of type and outcome of research and they all tended to support the contention that industry funding was associated with a bias, but by themselves these studies do not establish a cause and effect relationship. Finally, the only study on publication bias did not support the contention that industry suppresses the results of negative studies. In recent years industry has been open to suggestions to limit possible bias. Owing to the importance of clinical trials in determining therapy further investigation into this topic should be encouraged.

Keywords:
*systematic review drug company sponsored research trial design reporting of results journal supplements INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PUBLICATION PROMOTION DISGUISED: CLINICAL TRIALS PROMOTION DISGUISED: JOURNAL SUPPLEMENTS, CONTROLLED CIRCULATION JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS PROMOTION DISGUISED: POSTMARKETING RESEARCH SPONSORSHIP: RESEARCH