Reporting clinical trials: full access to all the data

Biomedical research is becoming more complex as a result of involvement by individual investigators, universities, commercial research units and industry. Financial conflicts of interest have been the subject of many editorials, and most peer‐reviewed journals now require any conflicts to be identified and explained when authors submit manuscripts for publication. Clear statements of industry sponsored research and author participation in corporate activities are required for evaluation of a manuscript. Full disclosure of financial interests by authors is essential to retain public trust in biomedical research, the peer‐review process and the integrity of the authors and of the universities (DeAngelis et al ., 2001). We already require that each author sign a statement of his or her financial arrangements with public, private and industry sources of support. These declarations alert the editor, reviewer and physician‐reader to any potential bias …