Physicians who participated in Big Pharma-sponsored clinical trials involving asthma medications maintained adherence to treatment guidelines but were more likely prescribe the sponsor's drugs, according to a new study in JAMA.
Morten Andersen, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues from Denmark investigated the effects of physicians participating in company-sponsored clinical trials aimed at improving patients' use of asthma medicine.
The researchers found the prevalence of inhaled steroid use in asthma patients increased from 68.5 percent to 72.9 percent. The study also revealed participants in the trail did not impact the physicians' adherence to international treatment guidelines.
Researchers say pharmaceutical companies are often involved in clinical trials in general practice, and this may trigger an increase in the use of the sponsoring companies' products because physicians become familiar with them. The researchers suggest this effect may be further strengthened by close physician-company cooperation, which they say may create physician loyalty toward the company.
"Our study confirms the hypothesis that physician involvement in clinical trials is a powerful tool for influencing company-specific drug preferences. Several mechanisms may be responsible, including setting up a gift relationship by payment to a trial conducting physician."
GOTBO = glimpse of the bleeding obvious
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