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United StatesCulture6 days ago

STAT+: A key European clinical trial registry lacks complete and timely results, an analysis finds

A new analysis reveals that less than half of the studies registered in a key European clinical trial registry had results reported within the required timeframe, and only 42% provided full results. While the registration data quality was high, compliance with legal reporting requirements was found to be weak, and regulatory oversight is lacking. The findings were published on the medRxiv preprint server.

By Ed Silverman

June 15, 2026

Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morning Pharmalittle newsletter and the afternoon Pharmalot newsletter .

Amid ongoing concern about clinical trial transparency, a new analysis found that results for less than half of the studies registered in a key European database were reported within the required time frame and complete results were fully reported for only 42%.

While the quality of the registration data was high overall — more than 99% of expected data was found in the 234 clinical trials for which results were supposed to have been disclosed — the researchers contended that overall compliance with legal reporting requirements was weak and regulatory oversight is lacking.

European Union and member state regulators “have so far not delivered the promised ‘high levels of transparency never seen before for clinical trials,’” the authors wrote in their analysis. It was recently posted on the medRxiv preprint server, which displays unpublished research that has not yet been peer reviewed.

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Source document: Analysis on clinical trial registry compliance

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STAT NewsIndependentCenter6 days ago
STAT+: A key European clinical trial registry lacks complete and timely results, an analysis finds

A new analysis reveals that less than half of the studies registered in a key European clinical trial registry had results reported within the required timeframe, and only 42% provided full results. While the registration data quality was high, compliance with legal reporting requirements was found to be weak, and regulatory oversight is lacking. The findings were published on the medRxiv preprint server.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual findings from an analysis without overtly favoring any political perspective. It discusses clinical trial transparency and regulatory compliance in Europe, focusing on data rather than taking a stance on policy or ideology.

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