Are More Negative Drug Trials Being Published?
Trends of Publication of Negative Trials Over Time
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers looked at whether more clinical trials with negative results (where the new treatment didn't work better than placebo) are being published in top medical journals over 20 years. They found more negative trials are being published now compared to 2000, but there's no clear pattern over time.
Surprising Findings
The jump in negative trials happened between 2000 and 2020 specifically, not gradually over time
You'd expect a steady increase if trial registration was working, but instead there's an inconsistent pattern—almost like random variation rather than progress.
Practical Takeaways
When evaluating a new drug or treatment, ask who funded the study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers looked at whether more clinical trials with negative results (where the new treatment didn't work better than placebo) are being published in top medical journals over 20 years. They found more negative trials are being published now compared to 2000, but there's no clear pattern over time.
Surprising Findings
The jump in negative trials happened between 2000 and 2020 specifically, not gradually over time
You'd expect a steady increase if trial registration was working, but instead there's an inconsistent pattern—almost like random variation rather than progress.
Practical Takeaways
When evaluating a new drug or treatment, ask who funded the study
Publication
Journal
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Year
2025
Authors
B. Laviolle, Clara Locher, Jean-Sébastien Allain, Q. Le Cornu, P. Charpentier, Marie Lefebvre, Clémence Le Pape, Cyril Leven, C. Palpacuer, Clémence Pontoizeau, Eric Bellissant, F. Naudet