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Johnson & Johnson has announced that it will release its clinical trial data to researchers. This is a huge step forward because for years, drug-manufacturing companies have been persistent about not sharing any information they collect on their drugs. These companies have also avoided publishing any negative trials. Now, Johnson & Johnson has decided to work with the Yale School of Medicine's Open Data Access Project (YODA).

"We really wanted a broad approach to contributing to advancing medical science through all of our products that touch patients in different ways," stated Joanne Waldstreicher, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Johnson & Johnson.

YODA will be responsible for reviewing any requests from physicians seeking to acquire any available data on Johnson & Johnson's products. Since the partnership is new, physicians can only ask for data on products from the company's drug division. Johnson & Johnson stated that eventually, physicians could get access to data on its devices and consumer products. Once YODA accepts a request, the physician will be given the raw data, which include data on each participant. The participants' names, however, will be omitted. The researchers would be able to examine the data on their own terms.

"They are sharing their entire trove of clinical trial data assets and they have given us complete authority and jurisdiction over all decisions regarding data access," said Harlan Krumholz, a Yale cardiologist and head of YODA, according to the Wall Street Journal. "That's a remarkable action."

Paul Stoffels, MD, Johnson & Johnson's chief scientific officer, added, reported by Forbes, "Responsible sharing of clinical trial data advances science and medicine and is part of Johnson & Johnson's commitment to the doctors, nurses, patients, mothers, and fathers and all others who use our products."

Even though sharing data could be extremely beneficial for research, Waldstreicher stated that there is still "a bit of a learning process." For example, in trials that recruited patients with rare diseases, anonymity could be jeopardized. Despite these issues, the companies involved are optimistic that sharing data will create better drug transparency.