Why Opening Up Clinical Trials Data Is Good For Pharma Companies Too

Earlier this year we wrote about how AbbVie, the pharma company spun out of Abbott Laboratories, had gone to court to stop the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from releasing clinical trials information about one of its drugs. Despite what AbbVie claimed, this was not commercially sensitive in any way, but simply basic data about safety and efficacy. 

On Techdirt.

Of Surveillance Debates and Open Clinical Data

Revelations about the staggering levels of online surveillance that are now routine in this country have been met with a stunning silence from the UK government. There's an important meeting tomorrow where three MPs from the main parties are trying to get some kind of debate going on this crucial issue. It would be helpful if you could ask your MP to participate. Here's what I've written:

On Open Enterprise blog.

Open Clinical Trials: Please Write to Health Minister

I first wrote about the importance of open clinical trials two years ago. More recently, I urged people to contact their MEPs for a crucial vote that was taking place in one of the committees in the European Parliament. The AllTrials site, which is coordinating the fight to obtain access to this vital public health information, now asks for help during another stage in the battle for open data:

On Open Enterprise blog.

EU Vote on Clinical Trials Data - Please Contact MEPs Now

I've written a few times about open data in the context of clinical trials - the information that must be provided when new drugs seek approval. As I noted, there is a growing movement to make such basic safety data freely available, the idea being that it could then be analysed by third parties, perhaps finding new applications of drugs, overlooked problems, or even wilful concealing of adverse effects. 

On Open Enterprise blog.

European Court Puts Release Of Drug Safety Data On Hold

Last month Techdirt wrote about the case of the giant pharma company AbbVie seeking to prevent the European Medicines Agency from releasing basic health safety data that AbbVie claims contains commercially sensitive information. Unfortunately, an interim injunction has just been granted to that effect: 

On Techdirt.

Clinical Trials Must be Open Data: Please Contact MEPs

Back in February, I noted that the UK's investigation into making clinical trial data freely available was somewhat subsidiary to the EU's major initiative on the same subject. The battle there between those who wish to keep clinical trials data secret, for fear that it might show pharma companies in a bad light, and those who believe that it must be released to save money and - more importantly - save lives is now increasingly fierce.

On Open Enterprise blog.