AllTrials

AllTrials

AllTrials logo

AllTrials is an international campaign advocating for the registration and reporting of all clinical trials. The initiative seeks to ensure that all past and present clinical trials are registered and their full methods and summary results are reported. This transparency is crucial for the advancement of medical knowledge and the improvement of patient care.

Background

The AllTrials campaign was launched in January 2013 by a coalition of organizations and individuals, including Sense about Science, Bad Science, the British Medical Journal, the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and the James Lind Initiative. The campaign was initiated in response to growing concerns about the lack of transparency in clinical trial reporting, which can lead to biased medical literature and misinformed healthcare decisions.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the AllTrials campaign are:

• To ensure that all clinical trials, past and present, are registered with a publicly accessible database.
• To ensure that the full methods and summary results of all trials are reported.
• To advocate for the implementation of policies and regulations that mandate the registration and reporting of clinical trials.

Importance of Clinical Trial Transparency

Clinical trials are essential for determining the safety and efficacy of new medical treatments. However, when trials are not registered or their results are not reported, it can lead to a skewed understanding of a treatment's effectiveness. This lack of transparency can result in:

• Publication bias, where only positive results are published, giving a false impression of a treatment's efficacy.
• Research waste, as future studies may unknowingly repeat past trials.
• Harm to patients, who may receive ineffective or harmful treatments based on incomplete data.

Campaign Activities

The AllTrials campaign engages in various activities to promote its objectives, including:

• Lobbying policymakers and regulatory bodies to enforce trial registration and reporting.
• Raising public awareness about the importance of clinical trial transparency.
• Collaborating with researchers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocacy groups to support the campaign's goals.

Support and Endorsements

The AllTrials campaign has received widespread support from numerous organizations and individuals worldwide. Notable supporters include:

• World Health Organization
• Cochrane Collaboration
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
• Various academic institutions and research organizations

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite its widespread support, the AllTrials campaign faces several challenges, including:

• Resistance from some pharmaceutical companies and researchers who are concerned about the potential impact on intellectual property and competitive advantage.
• The logistical and financial challenges of registering and reporting all past trials.
• Ensuring compliance with new regulations and policies.

Related Pages

• Clinical trial
• Publication bias
• Evidence-based medicine
• Research ethics