Good publication practice for pharmaceutical companies

TLDR

Guidelines on Good Publication Practice for pharmaceutical companies are presented. The guidelines aim to ensure responsible and ethical publication of pharmaceutical company–sponsored trials, stimulate discussion among journals, investigators and sponsors, and encourage endorsement by industry stakeholders. The guidelines outline companies’ responsibilities to publish all study results, manage investigator relationships, prevent redundant or premature publication, improve trial identification, and define the role of professional medical writers.

Abstract

Guidelines on Good Publication Practice (GPP) for pharmaceutical companies are presented. The aim of the guidelines is to ensure that clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies are published in a responsible and ethical manner. The guidelines cover companies' responsibility to an endeavour to publish results of all studies, companies' relations with investigators, measures to prevent redundant or premature publication, methods to improve trial identification and the role of professional medical writers. Our aim in publishing the GPP guidelines, which are the first to be developed by and for those working on publications in the pharmaceutical industry, is to stimulate discussion between journals, investigators and trial sponsors and to provide guidance to those who seek it. We also hope that pharmaceutical companies and others involved in developing publications arising from sponsored clinical trials will endorse the guidelines.