Association between commercial funding of Canadian patient groups and their views about funding of medicines: an observational study

Background: Patient groups represent the interest of their members when it comes to drug funding. Many patient groups receive grants from pharmaceutical companies that make products being considered for funding. This research examines whether there is an association between the positions that Canadian groups take about the products and conflicts of interest with the companies. Methods: The Common Drug Review (CDR) and panCanadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) make recommendations to Canadian provincial and federal drug plans about funding particular drug-indications. Both utilize input from patient groups in making their recommendations. Patient group submissions are available from both organizations and these submissions contain statements about conflicts of interest. Views of the patient groups, with and without a conflict with the company making the drug under consideration and without any conflicts at all, were assessed and then compared with the recommendations from CDR and pCODR...背景：患者组织（Patient groups）在药品资助相关事务中代表其成员的合法权益。多数患者组织会从研发拟纳入资助范围药品的制药公司（pharmaceutical companies）处获得资助经费。本研究旨在探究加拿大患者组织针对相关药品所持立场，与其合作药企之间是否存在利益冲突（conflicts of interest）关联。 研究方法：通用药品审查（Common Drug Review, CDR）与泛加拿大肿瘤药品审查（panCanadian Oncology Drug Review, pCODR）会向加拿大省级及联邦级药品医保计划出具特定药品适应症的资助建议，二者在制定审查建议时均会吸纳患者组织提供的意见。两家机构均公开了患者组织提交的意见书，其中包含利益冲突声明。研究对三类患者组织的立场开展评估：与拟审查药品所属药企存在利益冲突的患者组织、无此类利益冲突的患者组织，以及完全不存在任何利益冲突的患者组织，并将评估结果与CDR及pCODR出具的审查建议进行对比……