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Association of industry funding with the outcome and quality of randomized controlled trials of drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis & Rheumatism, 05/04/2012
Khan NA et al. – Industry funding was not associated with higher likelihood of positive outcomes of published drug therapy randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and reported better on some key RCT quality measures.
Methods- MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched to identify original RA drug therapy RCTs published in 2002–3 & 2006–7.
- Two reviewers independently assessed each RCT for the funding source, characteristics, outcome [positive (statistically significant result favoring experimental drug for the primary outcome) or not positive], and reporting of methodological measures whose inadequate performance may bias treatment effect assessment.
- RCTs registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and completed in the study years were assessed for publication bias.
- 103 eligible RCTs were identified with following funding sources: 58 (56.3%) industry; 19 (18.4%) non–profit; 6 (5.8%) mixed; and 20 (19.4%) unspecified.
- Industry funded RCTs had significantly more study centers and subjects; while non–profit funded RCTs had longer duration, and were more likely to study different treatment strategies.
- Outcome could be assessed for 86 (83.5%) RCTs.
- Funding source was not associated with higher likelihood of positive outcomes favoring the sponsored experimental drug [industry (75.5%), non–profit (68.8%), mixed (40%), and unspecified (81.2%); p = 0.37].
- Industry funded RCTs had trend towards higher likelihood of non–publication (38.6% versus 16.7%, p = 0.093). Industry–funded RCTs reported more frequent performance of double–blinding, adequate participant flow description, and intention–to–treat analysis.
