Trial results posted to public database lack quality data, report finds

Although more clinical trial sponsors are reporting results to a public federal database, the quality of the data may still be hindering efforts to promote transparency. Looking at the common problems with results on ClinicalTrials.gov, researchers found that trial sponsors often didn’t include clear time frames for when data were measured. In one instance, of the 160 trials that were supposed to submit data on patient deaths, only 47 did so. Consistent with previous research, the new report also found that academic sponsors fared worse than their industry peers: At first review, only 17% of academic trials were in good enough shape to be posted to the website, compared to 31% of industry-funded trials. Poor-quality data are “a disturbing reflection” of a research enterprise that’s still struggling to report clinical trial results, study lead author Dr. Deborah Zarin tells STAT.