Comparing the Clinical Trial Characteristics of Industry-Funded Trials and Non Industry-Funded Trials

J Law Med Ethics. 2024;52(3):693-700. doi: 10.1017/jme.2024.135. Epub 2024 Dec 16.

Abstract

We compared study characteristics of randomized controlled trials funded by industry (N=697) to those not funded by industry (N=835). RCTs published in high-impact journals are more likely to be blinded, more likely to include a placebo, and more likely to post trial results on ClinicalTrials.gov. Our findings emphasize the importance of evaluating the quality of an RCT based on its methodological rigor, not its funder type.

Keywords: Funder; Industry; Natural Language Processing; Pharmaceutical; Randomized Controlled Trials; Trial Characteristics.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Drug Industry* / economics
  • Humans
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic*
  • Research Support as Topic*
  • United States