Next steps in trial registration

Minimum criteria have been agreed, and intentions restated

Last year medical journals responded to the growing clamour for greater transparency in the conduct of clinical trials by deciding to require registration of trials that are submitted for publication.1 Various groups have proposed criteria to clarify the implementation of this policy.2 3 These moves have received a mostly positive response from the public, regulators, and industry. Associations of pharmaceutical companies have signalled their support for registration of trials and recording of results although, regrettably, registration will only be voluntary.4 Individual pharmaceutical companies have announced their own initiatives, albeit under pressure from lawmakers and the needs of the market. 5

Now the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has announced …