Clinical trial principles outlined

The ABPI, a host of Royal colleges and other major healthcare organisations have created a set of principles in order to drive best practice in clinical trial reporting.

The Ethical Standards in Health and Life Sciences Group’s (ESHLSG) Clinical Trial Transparency Principles and Facts outlines standards including publishing study outcomes within 21 days and releasing significant data.

Dr Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the document provides “much-needed clarity, as well as setting new standards for transparency and best practice”.

The ESHLSG principles are the first time that leading healthcare bodies and senior pharma representatives have agreed on a joint approach on clinical trial data and outcomes.

Deepak Khanna, co-chair of the group and President of the ABPI, said that clinical research is an “essential part of the medicine development process” and the results are a “source of information” to all researchers.

He commented: “Scientists can examine, question and utilise trial data, and that can only benefit the healthcare community and patients. I’m delighted that so many healthcare leaders are involved in this project – we will be far more effective in finding the right solutions if we work together.

“It is in all of our interests to be transparent, and it is incredibly encouraging to see the collaborations that have brought about this conference and the publication of the Principles document.”