Industry-Sponsored Clinical Research

TLDR

Industry-sponsored clinical research has a controversial character. The study aims to establish task forces at academic medical centers to implement policies limiting industry influence and to evaluate their effects on professional conduct, prescribing habits, research funding, and the potential need for government intervention.

Abstract

controversial character rather quickly. The faculty moves on—and this should encourage other AMCs to appoint their own task forces to design and implement change. As change becomes embedded in medical centers, it will be vital to analyze outcomes both qualitatively and quantitatively. There are many important questions to be answered: Do attitudes and practices change over time? Do house staff and medical students experience the change in terms of an intensified commitment to professionalism? Do disclosure requirements affect appointments to formulary committees or teaching assignments? As visits from pharmaceutical representatives decline, do physicians’ prescriptions for generics increase? What effect on research funding might occur? Does the pharmaceutical industry devise new strategies that undercut the policies, and if so, how do the AMCs respond? As visits from pharmaceutical representatives decline, do physicians’ prescriptions for generics increase? What effect on research funding might occur? Does the pharmaceutical industry devise new strategies that undercut the policies, and if so, how do the AMCs respond? Last, but certainly not least, will AMCs make sufficient progress to obviate the need for government intervention?