A new study in the British Medical Journal found that trials and reviews of drugs that are sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies are more likely to show results favorable to the drugs than are independent studies on the same drugs.

According to the authors, bias in drug trials is common and often favors the trial sponsor’s product. To balance this effect, independent reviews — which can have a more critical and systematic approach — are essential to ensure doctors and other health professionals have the information they need.

Study Finds Bias in Drug Studies