Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced that it would share clinical trial data on its medical devices and diagnostics with the Yale University Open Data Access (YODA) Project. The results from the clinical trials of the Medical Devices and Diagnostics businesses of J&J will be made available to researchers. This establishes a fully independent intermediary to manage requests and promote data use, just as it has done with its pharmaceutical clinical trial data.

The YODA Project will continue to act as a bridge between investigators and J&J 's pharmaceutical, and device and diagnostics businesses. Under the arrangement, the YODA Project will approve or deny requests from investigators for de-identified patient data associated with the pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic clinical trials conducted by J&J companies. This expanded scope that now includes device and diagnostic studies is another step forward in the continuing evolution of open science in clinical medicine.

"This action will benefit society and represents a major step forward in the effort to promote data sharing, as J&J leadership in this area now extends from sharing its drug data to sharing its device and diagnostics data. We hope this action serves as a catalyst to others to join the momentum on open science," said Dr Harlan Krumholz, professor of medicine and leader of the YODA Project.

Dr Joanne Waldstreicher, chief medial officer of J&J said, "Sharing data from clinical trials leads to greater insights in medicine. This agreement with the YODA Project underscores J&J's commitment to responsibly share clinical trial data with researchers in a way that we believe advances medical science and public health."