The Study
Trends of Publication of Negative Trials Over Time
This study looked at 1,542 medical research papers published in top journals over 20 years. It found that more papers with 'negative' results (where the treatment didn't work better than placebo) were published in 2020 compared to 2000. But here's the tricky part: just because two things happened around the same time doesn't mean one caused the other. The study shows links or associations - like bigger studies and industry-funded studies had different patterns of publishing negative results - but it can't prove that any of these factors actually cause more or fewer negative studies to be published.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review.
Where the score came from
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.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 540 / 100
Quality score
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies. They sit above a single cohort study but below a single randomized trial, because the underlying evidence is still observational.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1For a patient or doctor, this means top medical journals are slightly more willing to publish trials where treatments don't work, but the change is small and inconsistent.
- 2Industry-funded research still tends to hide negative findings.
- 3Negative trials increased from 27.6% (2000) to 37.4% (2020).
- 4Industry-funded trials publish fewer negative results.
- 5Certain medical specialties publish more negative trials.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
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
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.