Reply #25: Yes, you're right [View All]

[Tartiflette]

Selective publication of data, as it's described here, does lead to distorted impressions. However, even if the companies were to try to publish negative efficacy data - no defense here, note - it might be difficult (it is always more difficult to publish negative data). I definitely take your point though, just making the comment on the way articles are selected for publication. However, do note that when a drug is submitted for application ALL clinical trials are required as part of that documentation, so ultimately, the effectiveness of the drug is determined and adjudicated by the health authorities.

Partly as a result of this discrepancy concerning results and the slant towards positive-only data, there is now a clinical trials website where the FDA publishes ALL clinical trial data reaching a certian stage in development and companies are required to submit their data for this within a defined period after the conclusion of the trial. So, the data will be there for all proscribers and the general public to access.

Oh, and on edit, companies are required to submit applications for running trials well in advance, with detailed information demonstrating how the trial is to be run and analysed, so there is little wiggle room if something negative shoud arise during the trial.