Sharing research data increases reusability, reduces waste, supports reproducibility and promotes innovation. In medical research, sharing data also promotes transparency and access to information relevant to patient care.

While important advancements have been made in data sharing by regulators, the pharmaceutical industry and academic publishers, several barriers remain. Some of these barriers stem from concerns about data privacy and patient safety, but others are related to the need for confidence in sharing, which can be improved through agreed standards and systems for reuse of research data, including the application of FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) principles and the overarching principle of “as open as possible, as closed as necessary”.

Medical writers, who are key links between the pharmaceutical and publishing industries, can contribute to making pharma publication data FAIRer. They also have an important role in educating others about the path to more findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable data.

Medical Writing. 2022;31(4)38-43. https://doi.org/10.56012/efip1000