Clinical trials

Clinical trials are at the heart of pharmaceutical development. They are conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of medicines as they are developed and after they reach the marketplace.

Novartis believes that transparency regarding the design of trials and their results - no matter what the outcome - is important to strengthen confidence. Patients should know that all available evidence is used in characterizing a medicine's safety and efficacy and in approving it for use in patients. The need for open communication applies not only to products approved for marketing, but also for those still in development. Transparency also encourages clinical trial participation.

Novartis is convinced that the public - especially patients and healthcare practitioners - have a right to access the data that supports the safety of any marketed product approved for use in their country. Prompt and open disclosure to patients and physicians is a responsibility of every company, particularly when the information involved may affect the health of patients.

Making clinical trial information more widely available to healthcare practitioners and patients has important public health benefits, and we take seriously our responsibility to create greater opportunities for easy access to information.

Read our position on Disclosure of clinical research results.