Elsevier has announced the addition of over 500,000 clinical trial records to its biomedical literature database, Embase, through the integration of data from ClinicalTrials.gov. The update aims to streamline research workflows by combining clinical trials data with peer-reviewed articles, in-press publications, and conference abstracts on a single platform.

The new records represent studies conducted across more than 200 countries and are expected to support a wide range of use cases, including systematic reviews, clinical trial design, medical device approvals, and drug safety analysis. According to Elsevier, the integration addresses a persistent challenge in life sciences research: the fragmentation of data across multiple platforms and the inefficiencies it creates in evidence gathering.

Researchers using Embase will now be able to access clinical trials data indexed by Emtree, Elsevier’s life sciences thesaurus, enabling more accurate searches by title, summary, and detailed description. This change is expected to enhance alignment between literature and trial evidence, helping users manage large volumes of data more efficiently.

“Researchers are under increasing pressure to conduct comprehensive evidence searches with accuracy and efficiency, ensuring no critical information is overlooked,” said Mirit Eldor, managing director of the life sciences business at Elsevier.

“The incorporation of clinical trials data into Embase is the latest example of Elsevier’s commitment to developing innovative solutions that enhance researchers’ workflows.”

The update is particularly relevant for pharmaceutical and medical device companies seeking to stay informed about scientific developments, regulatory changes, and competitive activity. Elsevier says the consolidated search experience within Embase will reduce the risk of duplicative or missed results, a common issue when sourcing data from disparate platforms.

In addition to supporting systematic reviews and regulatory filings, the company believes the integration will aid medical affairs professionals in better understanding clinical endpoints and patient populations, as well as help developers improve clinical trial protocols and assess post-market safety.

By late 2025, Embase is expected to expand its coverage further by including clinical trial eligibility criteria and study design information, positioning the platform as a central resource for both published and unpublished biomedical data.

Elsevier stated that the expansion is in response to feedback from users who requested more seamless access to clinical trial information. With this move, the company is positioning Embase as a more comprehensive evidence base for the life sciences industry.