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 is to address the issue of publication bias and selective reporting, which can lead to an incomplete and potentially misleading understanding of the efficacy and safety of medical interventions.

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 James Lind Initiative, and the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. The campaign was initiated in response to growing concerns about the lack of transparency in clinical trial reporting, which can have serious implications for patient safety and the integrity of medical research.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the AllTrials campaign are:

• To ensure that all clinical trials, past and present, are registered on a publicly accessible database.
• To ensure that the full methods and summary results of all trials are reported.
• To promote transparency and accountability in clinical research.

Rationale

The rationale behind the AllTrials campaign is based on the recognition that incomplete reporting of clinical trials can lead to biased evidence, which in turn can affect clinical decision-making and policy. When only positive results are published, while negative or inconclusive results are withheld, it creates a skewed understanding of a treatment's effectiveness. This can result in the use of ineffective or harmful treatments and the misallocation of healthcare resources.

Support and Endorsements

The AllTrials campaign has received widespread support from various stakeholders in the medical and scientific communities. This includes endorsements from major research funders, academic institutions, patient groups, and professional societies. The campaign has also garnered support from prominent figures in the field of medicine and science, who have advocated for greater transparency in clinical research.

Impact

Since its inception, the AllTrials campaign has had a significant impact on the discourse surrounding clinical trial transparency. It has raised awareness about the importance of registering and reporting all clinical trials and has influenced policy changes in several countries. Some regulatory agencies have introduced measures to improve the transparency of clinical trial data, and there has been an increase in the number of trials being registered and reported.

Challenges

Despite its successes, the AllTrials campaign faces several challenges. These include resistance from some pharmaceutical companies and researchers who are reluctant to disclose negative or inconclusive results. Additionally, there are logistical and technical challenges associated with registering and reporting all clinical trials, particularly those conducted in the past.

Future Directions

The AllTrials campaign continues to advocate for greater transparency in clinical research. Future directions include:

• Expanding the campaign's reach to include more countries and regions.
• Collaborating with regulatory agencies to develop and implement policies that mandate the registration and reporting of all clinical trials.
• Engaging with the public and patient groups to raise awareness about the importance of clinical trial transparency.

Related pages

• Clinical trial
• Publication bias
• Evidence-based medicine
• Sense about Science