Drug firms "withholding research" from doctors, MPs warn

Richard Bacon, MP for south Norfolk, said: “It’s quite difficult to tell what is and what is not dangerous when the info is not publicly accessible.”

The withholding info of trial final results “has ramifications for the entire of medicine”, he explained.

“The potential of physicians, researchers and sufferers to make informed selections about treatment options is currently being undermined.

“Regulators and the industry have just lately produced proposals to open up accessibility, but these do not cover the problem of accessibility to the outcomes of trials in the past which bear on the efficacy and safety of medicines in use today.

“Study suggests that the probability of finished trials currently being published is roughly 50 per cent. And trials which gave a favourable verdict are about twice as very likely to be published as trials giving unfavourable results.

“This is of extreme concern to this committee.”

Mr Bacon known as on the Government to make sure that complete techniques and final results of all trails are opened up to wider scrutiny by physicians and researcher. He explained medical doctors should be capable to appear at outcomes for both new and existing medication.

But he predicted it would get “sustained pressure” from parliament and the public to make drug organizations act.

Businesses argue the details is commercially delicate and can give competitors potent insights into the progress or troubles of their operate.

Mr Bacon said there was still a lack of consensus above how effectively Tamiflu, stockpiled for use in an influenza pandemic, actually performs.

He explained: “The lack of transparency of clinical trial information on this drug to the wider study community is avoiding correct discussion of this issue amongst professionals. We are disturbed by claims that regulators do not have access to all the offered info.”

He continued: “The case for stockpiling antiviral medicines at the existing degree is based mostly on judgment rather than on proof of their effectiveness during an influenza pandemic.

“Prior to paying funds in long term to maintain the stockpile, the department wants to evaluation what level of coverage is proper. It need to search at the degree of stockpiling in other countries, bearing in thoughts that the patent for the medication runs out in 2016.”

Drug firms "withholding research" from doctors, MPs warn