The AP examines the ongoing debate about how much influence drug companies have over the public review of the research they sponsor. Scientific journals have been struggling to assure the research community that they can gain full disclosure of the data. Professional groups have been studying how they can guard against the "hidden biases" that may be present in industry-funded projects. The pharma industry provides about 70 percent of the funding for drug research in the U.S. and has been repeatedly accused of clamping down on any discussion of negative data that could threaten the success of a drug.
- here's the AP report