Open Access in Europe to Big Pharma clinical trial data

When Guido Rasi took charge of Europe’s medicines’ regulator in 2011 he inherited an explosive dossier that is now poised to transform drug development.

The furore started in 2007 when two Danish academics pushed the European Medicines Agency for greater transparency on 15 clinical trials. Their pursuit of greater openness set in motion a chain of events that stands to revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry in the months ahead. From the beginning of next year, the EMA will release all information about clinical studies submitted to it by organisations seeking authorisation for new treatments. 

For advocates of change, including many patient groups and academic researchers, greater transparency in drug trials is essential to understand the full risks and benefits of medicines and reduce development costs. Critics argue that a cascade of publicly available data will threaten the confidentiality of patients taking part in trials and undermine the role of regulators. [See Financial Times]