Drug firm Roche promise more access to trial data

Pharmaceutical Giant Roche announced today that it will appoint its own panel of experts to approve requests of certain research of specific trails. This statement has invoked rage with certain campaigners such as "sense about science" who triggered the AllTrails campaign and has been pushing for greater transparency in the industry and for all clinical research trails to be published.

Pharmaceutical giant "Roche" came into the media spotlight when the company provided Tamiflu to a number of countries during the bird flue outbreak. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and another prescription drug called Relenza (zanamivir) don't just treat flu symptoms but can shorten how long you have the illness, by inhibiting the growth of the virus. And they can reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia and respiratory failure, if you take them within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Though the side effects of these drugs include vomiting head aches, psychiatric problems particularly in children.

Director of AllTrials Tracey Brown said: "Does Roche expect applause for announcing that it will continue to keep clinical trial findings hidden? They're on another planet. Roche's response is pathetic. Which bit of All and Trials do they not understand?"

Carl Heneghan, Director, Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Oxford, who is part of the Cochrane team reviewing Tamiflu said, "How can any panel be independent if they appoint it and oversee it? It also means there will be confidentiality clauses within any agreement. Either you provide the data in a transparent manner or you don't."

Sourced from bbc news health & AllTrials

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