[Clinical researchers and pharmaceutical industry. Dangerous liaisons]

Pharmaceutical industry and physician-investigators are mutually dependent for the development of new drugs and clinical trials of such drugs. Under pressure of increasing market orientation, clinical scientific investigations shift more and more from fundamental to clinical drug trials, the results of which sometimes do not justify the excitement with which they are presented in the scientific and lay press. More room and means should be given to less market oriented studies, addressing more fundamental clinical problems. Financial affiliation with the industry may influence the doctors' mind and the presentation and type of investigation. Apart from this type of intellectual subjection there is a form of financial subjugation of doctors to the industry, by participating in so-called 'postmarketing surveillance studies' which they in fact are not, that have no scientific value whatsoever, but only serve the financial interest of the participating doctor and the industry.