Canada clamps down on access to drug safety data Independent drug studies are under threat in Canada, say researchers whose access to government databases on drug safety and efficacy has been suspended. Paul C Webster reports.

摘要

A set of large studies have been suspended and a team of six researchers fired by the provincial government in British Colombia (BC)-Canada's third-most populous province-as thefallout from a 2011 police investigation into allegations of data management irregularities continues. According to the government, "evidence of potential conflict of interest, and inappropriate contract management and data access with external drug researchers" emerged from the investigation.Alongside the six employees fired by BC Minister of Health Margaret MacDiarmid, three additional government scientists have been suspended, and an academic researcher working under contract has been suspended without pay. After announcing the firing of the latest researcher in Victoria, the provincial capital, on Oct 24, MacDiarmid called the alleged breaches of public trust "deeply concerning". The investigation is complex, she said, and "more people are being contacted".