Biomedical preprints largely withstand peer review, large analysis finds
A large, non‑peer‑reviewed study posted on bioRxiv analyzed 72,644 biomedical preprints (2018–2025) and found that central conclusions remain unchanged in 39.9% and are revised only modestly in about 50%, with major changes in around 10%. Revisions tend to become more cautious after peer review. Major revision rates vary by field (7.2% for bioinformatics vs 17.5% for microbiology) and have declined over time (17% in 2019 to 5.7% in 2024). Preprinted papers are retracted at roughly half the rate of non‑preprinted ones (8.1 vs 18.7 per 10,000), though the study is observational and subject to selection biases. Overall, preprints appear more reliable than some critics claim, but caveats remain regarding interpretation and methodology.
