New Clinical Trials Data Bank

The National Library of Medicine has started posting information about clinical trials in its new Clinical Trials Data Bank (http://clinicaltrials.gov). At present, the new bank contains more data than had formerly been available on the NIH clinical trials website, and it will be expanded throughout 2000 to include trials sponsored by other federal agencies and the private sector. The trials included in the new data bank are only those conducted under an FDA investigational new drug application for serious or life-threatening diseases, such as cancer or AIDS. In conjunction with establishment of the data bank, the FDA has published draft guidance on what kind of information clinical trial sponsors must submit (www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm).