GlaxoSmithKline adds patient data to new online request system

GlaxoSmithKline has announced the addition of anonymised patient-level data to a new multi-sponsor request system, which includes studies from multiple organisations.

The patient information comes from the online request system GlaxoSmithKline launched in May 2013. This move will help researchers to request studies they are interested in from multiple companies through a single unified system.

New studies will be regularly added to the site, with the next major update – which will include additional new and historic studies – planned for the first quarter of 2014.

GlaxoSmithKline became the first company to launch an online system enabling external researchers to request access to detailed clinical trial data last year. Since then, more than 450 studies have been made available through its new site.

James Shannon, GlaxoSmithKline's chief medical officer, said: "Our commitment to transparency of clinical trial data reflects our wish to help advance scientific understanding and enable the scientific community to learn from the research we have undertaken."

This comes after the firm amended its sales and marketing practices last month to improve its transparency and better prioritise the needs and interests of patients.