title: The Economics of Reproducibility in Preclinical Research.
abstract: Low reproducibility rates within life science research undermine cumulative knowledge production and contribute to both delays and costs of therapeutic drug development. An analysis of past studies indicates that the cumulative (total) prevalence of irreproducible preclinical research exceeds 50%, resulting in approximately US$28,000,000,000 (US$28B)/year spent on preclinical research that is not reproducible-in the United States alone. We outline a framework for solutions and a plan for long-term improvements in reproducibility rates that will help to accelerate the discovery of life-saving therapies and cures.
authors.affiliation: Global Biological Standards Institute, Washington, D.C., United States of America.
authors.forename: Leonard P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Management, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
authors.forename: Iain M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Cockburn
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Management, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America; Council of Economic Advisers, Washington, D.C., United States of America.
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Simcoe
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results