A new meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration of the trial data so-far released on oseltamivir (Tamiflu) by the drug’s manufacturer Roche shows that the company is still withholding access to full trial data, despite promises to release the data over 2 years ago.
According to the Cochrane study, which appears in BMJ, the failure to release full trial data publicly has resulted in confusion about oseltamivir’s effectiveness as an anti-influenza drug and how it should be prescribed.
Thus far, the Swiss-based Roche has only released the summary of the study methods and the results, claiming this is sufficient for the Cochrane review—a claim Cochrane refutes. Roche refuses to explain why it will not release all the data until it has seen the full Cochrane review.
According to the investigation, GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of zanamivir (Relenza), have offered individual patient data to Cochrane.
Source: BMJ
