Latest update - 28.8.14
Release of the analysis report of 'Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine survey of members on transparency in clinical trials'
The report, based on the results of the survey undertaken at the end of 2013, is available to download here.
Download the Press Release here.
Press on the report:
The issue of transparency of clinical trial data is currently very high on the agenda and the Faculty is active in the debate and involved with many of the workstreams that have been established to devise new policies and frameworks for data release. A number of initiatives and actions have already been taken to increase accessibility of information about clinical trials and their results, notably ‘clinicaltrials.gov'. The debate has now moved further to how effective these systems are and what further steps are needed to optimise the release of clinical trial results and data.
In line with the Guiding Principles for Pharmaceutical Physicians the Faculty has taken a positive and progressive stance on transparency and we are keen to proactively lead the debate in this area. We believe that increasing the transparency of clinical trials and easing access to data will ultimately be beneficial for patients. A change in legislation and policy could:
However, there could also be risks and concerns related to increased access to data, including:
The Faculty has:
Survey open from 23rd September to 28th October 2013
In order to inform our ongoing work in this area the Faculty has run a survey of our membership to better inform our decision-making on these challenging issues. The survey will evaluate our members' opinions on how a system can be developed that will enable the safe and responsible dissemination of clinical trial results and access to data. The process will need to balance the potential positive and negative effects described above, and will ultimately ensure that the best possible science results in the best possible treatments for patients.