Evidence Briefs · Project Lattice, Phase 0
Most “failed” trials didn’t fail. The registry just stopped telling the story.
ClinicalTrials.gov records why 52,408 trials stopped early. Most of those reasons have nothing to do with whether the science worked — funding ran out, a site closed, a sponsor changed course. This is what happened when we went looking for the trials worth a second look, then checked our own answer against reality.
52,408
trials classified
22,557
stopped for a non-scientific reason
7
internal audit rounds
0.2%
external-checked error rate
The pilot finding
The mechanical ranking put these 10 cases at the top of the list. Real web research resolved every single Category-A case to something other than "still simply open" — and confirmed 2 of 5 Category-B cases as genuinely unused results.
The 10 Evidence Briefs
verified 2026-08-02NCT04505098
A Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Icosapent Ethyl for High-Cardiovascular Risk Adults
Category A: Unanswered Problem (candidate)
medium confidenceSuccessor foundNCT04790786
UPMC OPTIMISE-C19 Trial, a COVID-19 Study
Category A: Unanswered Problem (candidate)
high confidenceAnswered elsewhereNCT00855478
French Post-Marketing Surveillance Survey
Category A: Unanswered Problem (candidate)
medium confidenceAnswered elsewhereNCT01989026
A Randomized Trial of Providing BCG Vaccination Immediately
Category A: Unanswered Problem (candidate)
high confidenceActually publishedNCT04141917
Test-and-treat for Influenza in Homeless Shelters
Category A: Unanswered Problem (candidate)
high confidenceActually publishedNCT01533818
Community Based Management of Fast Breathing in Infants Aged < 60 Days in Low-income Settlements of Karachi
Category B: Unused Result (candidate)
high confidenceActually publishedNCT00734110
Long-term Study of The Press Fit Condylar (P.F.C.) Sigma Total Knee Replacement System
Category B: Unused Result (candidate)
medium confidenceConfirmed unusedNCT00805311
Aggressive Medical Treatment Evaluation for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis
Category B: Unused Result (candidate)
high confidenceActually publishedNCT00947375
Lamictal TM, Haloperidol Decanoate in Schizophrenia
Category B: Unused Result (candidate)
high confidenceActually publishedNCT00208390
A Multi-centre Study to Assess the Long-term Performance of the Summit™ Hip in Primary Total Hip Replacement
Category B: Unused Result (candidate)
medium confidenceConfirmed unused