Fierce opposition to industry funding of Cochrane reviews has caused the organisation's leadership to draft a set of proposals that will, if accepted, further restrict commercial funding. The proposed policy will forbid for-profit companies to fund a Cochrane review if they have a “real or potential vested interest in the findings of the review.” It would additionally forbid commercial entities to fund the review groups themselves.

The new proposals do not forbid industry sponsorship of other Cochrane entities, but suggest creating a “firewall” between commercial sources and review groups. Nor do they restrict funding by not—for—profit organisations. This is worrying some researchers as a “third party” strategy—in which industry funds or even creates not—for—profit professional or lay organisations that promote certain medicines—is increasingly being used by drug companies …