The Guardian reported a study carried out by New Zealand researchers that investigate whether it is better to use herceptin, a breast cancer drug, alongside the chemotherapy or after it, ie sequential use.
They found that the data of the sequential use of herceptin were not published while data from the women given herceptin alongside their chemotherapy and women in the control group have been fully published in a peer-review journal. When they combined all these results, they found that the effect of herceptin was a third less effective than previously thought.
They concluded that not including these data in the overall assessment of the sequential use of herceptin has led to the treatment recommendation of the drug - a case of publication bias in which drug companies publish only trial results that are favourable.
Source: "Trastuzumab: possible publication bias". Lancet 2008; 371:1646-1648 ( free f/t via Athens)
1 comment:
very interesting - i wasn't aware of this. Thanks - look forward to the drug company's response.
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