Table 1

Baseline characteristics of included trials

Trial characteristicN (%)
All trials
n=192
Financial ties present*
n=130
Financial ties absent
n=62
Study phase
 Phase II50 (26)38 (29)12 (19)
 Phase III102 (53)81 (62)21 (34)
 Phase IV16 (8)7 (5)9 (15)
 Other24 (13)4 (3)20 (32)
Blinding
 Double blind146 (76)101 (78)45 (73)
 Single blind7 (4)5 (4)2 (3)
 Open label37 (19)22 (17)15 (24)
 Unknown2 (1)2 (2)0 (0)
Sample size
 <100 participants40 (21)17 (13)23 (37)
 100–299 participants55 (29)36 (28)19 (31)
 300–499 participants45 (23)31 (24)14 (23)
 ≥500 participants52 (27)46 (35)6 (10)
Funding source
 Any industry funding134 (70)113 (87)21 (34)
 Any government funding56 (29)23 (18)33 (53)
 Non-profit32 (17)14 (11)18 (29)
 No funding reported6 (3)1 (1)5 (8)
First author continent
 North America87 (45)69 (53)18 (29)
 Europe68 (35)46 (35)22 (35)
 Asia28 (15)8 (6)20 (32)
Beginning of enrolment†
 Prior to 200637 (19)17 (13)20 (32)
 2006–200745 (23)31 (24)14 (23)
 2008–200963 (33)49 (38)14 (23)
 2010 or later46 (24)33 (25)13 (21)
  • *Direct financial relationship present between first or last study author and drug manufacturer.

  • †Start date not reported for one trial.