The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7265 p288
6 September 2003

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Study conclusions linked to funding

Conclusions from clinical studies funded by organisations that generate profit are more likely to be positive than those from other studies, say researchers.

They looked at 370 randomised trials and found that the experimental drug was recommended as treatment of choice in 51 per cent of trials funded by for-profit organisations.

This compared with just 16 per cent of trials funded by not-for-profit organisations. The magnitude of treatment effect or the occurrence of adverse events did not explain the association.

“Readers should carefully evaluate whether conclusions in randomised trials are supported by data,” they say.

The study is published in JAMA (2003: 290: 921).