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Westphalen CB, Martins-Branco D, Beal JR, Cardone C, Coleman N, Schram AM, Halabi S, Michiels S, Yap C, André F, Bibeau F, Curigliano G, Garralda E, Kummar S, Kurzrock R, Limaye S, Loges S, Marabelle A, Marchió C, Mateo J, Rodon J, Spanic T, Pentheroudakis G, Subbiah V. The ESMO Tumour-Agnostic Classifier and Screener (ETAC-S): a tool for assessing tumour-agnostic potential of molecularly guided therapies and for steering drug development. Ann Oncol 2024:S0923-7534(24)01519-9. [PMID: 39187421 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2024.07.730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advances in precision oncology led to approval of tumour-agnostic molecularly guided treatment options (MGTOs). The minimum requirements for claiming tumour-agnostic potential remain elusive. METHODS The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Precision Medicine Working Group (PMWG) coordinated a project to optimise tumour-agnostic drug development. International experts examined and summarised the publicly available data used for regulatory assessment of the tumour-agnostic indications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and/or the European Medicines Agency as of December 2023. Different scenarios of minimum objective response rate (ORR), number of tumour types investigated, and number of evaluable patients per tumour type were assessed for developing a screening tool for tumour-agnostic potential. This tool was tested using the tumour-agnostic indications approved during the first half of 2024. A taxonomy for MGTOs and a framework for tumour-agnostic drug development were conceptualised. RESULTS Each tumour-agnostic indication had data establishing objective response in at least one out of five patients (ORR ≥ 20%) in two-thirds (≥4) of the investigated tumour types, with at least five evaluable patients in each tumour type. These minimum requirements were met by tested indications and may serve as a screening tool for tumour-agnostic potential, requiring further validation. We propose a conceptual taxonomy classifying MGTOs based on the therapeutic effect obtained by targeting a driver molecular aberration across tumours and its modulation by tumour-specific biology: tumour-agnostic, tumour-modulated, or tumour-restricted. The presence of biology-informed mechanistic rationale, early regulatory advice, and adequate trial design demonstrating signs of biology-driven tumour-agnostic activity, followed by confirmatory evidence, should be the principles for tumour-agnostic drug development. CONCLUSION The ESMO Tumour-Agnostic Classifier (ETAC) focuses on the interplay of targeted driver molecular aberration and tumour-specific biology modulating the therapeutic effect of MGTOs. We propose minimum requirements to screen for tumour-agnostic potential (ETAC-S) as part of tumour-agnostic drug development. Definition of ETAC cut-offs is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- C B Westphalen
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich & Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - D Martins-Branco
- Scientific and Medical Division, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Lugano, Switzerland
| | - J R Beal
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - C Cardone
- Experimental Clinical Abdominal Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori- IRCCS-Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy
| | - N Coleman
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin; Medical Oncology Department, St. James's Hospital, Dublin; Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Dublin, Ireland
| | - A M Schram
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City; Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City
| | - S Halabi
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham; Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, USA
| | - S Michiels
- Oncostat U1018, Inserm, Université Paris-Saclay, labeled Ligue Contre le Cancer, Villejuif; Service de Biostatistique et Epidémiologie, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - C Yap
- Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - F André
- INSERM U981, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif; Department of Cancer Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif; Faculty of Medicine, Université Paris-Saclay, Kremlin Bicêtre
| | - F Bibeau
- Service d'Anatomie Pathologique, CHU Besançon, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - G Curigliano
- Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, IRCCS, Milan; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - E Garralda
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - S Kummar
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland
| | - R Kurzrock
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center, Milwaukee, USA
| | - S Limaye
- Medical & Precision Oncology, Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - S Loges
- DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim, Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim; Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Marabelle
- Drug Development Department (DITEP) and Laboratory for Translational Research in Immunotherapy (LRTI), Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1015 & CIC1428, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - C Marchió
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin; Division of Pathology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - J Mateo
- Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Rodon
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, UT MD Anderson, Houston, USA
| | - T Spanic
- Europa Donna Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - G Pentheroudakis
- Scientific and Medical Division, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Lugano, Switzerland
| | - V Subbiah
- Early-Phase Drug Development, Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), Nashville, USA
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Burnett T, König F, Jaki T. Adding experimental treatment arms to multi-arm multi-stage platform trials in progress. Stat Med 2024; 43:3447-3462. [PMID: 38852991 DOI: 10.1002/sim.10090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) platform trials efficiently compare several treatments with a common control arm. Crucially MAMS designs allow for adjustment for multiplicity if required. If for example, the active treatment arms in a clinical trial relate to different dose levels or different routes of administration of a drug, the strict control of the family-wise error rate (FWER) is paramount. Suppose a further treatment becomes available, it is desirable to add this to the trial already in progress; to access both the practical and statistical benefits of the MAMS design. In any setting where control of the error rate is required, we must add corresponding hypotheses without compromising the validity of the testing procedure.To strongly control the FWER, MAMS designs use pre-planned decision rules that determine the recruitment of the next stage of the trial based on the available data. The addition of a treatment arm presents an unplanned change to the design that we must account for in the testing procedure. We demonstrate the use of the conditional error approach to add hypotheses to any testing procedure that strongly controls the FWER. We use this framework to add treatments to a MAMS trial in progress. Simulations illustrate the possible characteristics of such procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Burnett
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Franz König
- Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Jaki
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Faculty of Computer Science and Data Science, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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3
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Nguyen Q, Hees K, Hofner B. Adaptive platform trials: the impact of common controls on type one error and power. J Biopharm Stat 2024; 34:719-736. [PMID: 37990470 DOI: 10.1080/10543406.2023.2275765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Platform trials offer a framework to study multiple interventions in one trial with the opportunity of opening and closing arms. The use of common controls can increase efficiency as compared to individual controls. The need for multiplicity adjustment because of common controls is currently a debate among researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and regulators. The impact of common controls on the type one error in a fixed platform trial, i.e. when all treatments start and end recruitment at the same time, has been discussed in the literature before. We complement these findings by investigating the impact of a common control on the type one error and power in a flexible platform trial, i.e. when one arm joins the platform later. We derived the correlation of test statistics to assess the impact of the overlap and compared the results to a trial with individual controls. Furthermore, we evaluate the power, and the impact of multiplicity adjustment on the power in fixed and flexible platform trials. These methodological considerations are complemented by a regulatory guideline review. With multiple arms, the FWER is inflated when no multiplicity adjustment is applied. However, the FWER inflation is smaller with common controls than with individual controls. Even after multiplicity adjustment, a trial with common controls is often beneficial in terms of sample size and power. However, in some cases, the trial with common controls loses the efficiency gain and it might be advisable to run a separate trial rather than joining a platform trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quynh Nguyen
- Section Data Science and Methods, Paul-Ehrlich Institut, Langen, Germany
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Hees
- Section Data Science and Methods, Paul-Ehrlich Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Hofner
- Section Data Science and Methods, Paul-Ehrlich Institut, Langen, Germany
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
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4
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Bethe U, Pana ZD, Drosten C, Goossens H, König F, Marchant A, Molenberghs G, Posch M, Van Damme P, Cornely OA. Innovative approaches for vaccine trials as a key component of pandemic preparedness - a white paper. Infection 2024:10.1007/s15010-024-02347-1. [PMID: 39017997 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-024-02347-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WHO postulates the application of adaptive design features in the global clinical trial ecosystem. However, the adaptive platform trial (APT) methodology has not been widely adopted in clinical research on vaccines. METHODS The VACCELERATE Consortium organized a two-day workshop to discuss the applicability of APT methodology in vaccine trials under non-pandemic as well as pandemic conditions. Core aspects of the discussions are summarized in this article. RESULTS An "ever-warm" APT appears ideally suited to improve efficiency and speed of vaccine research. Continuous learning based on accumulating APT trial data allows for pre-planned adaptations during its course. Given the relative design complexity, alignment of all stakeholders at all stages of an APT is central. Vaccine trial modelling is crucial, both before and in a pandemic emergency. Various inferential paradigms are possible (frequentist, likelihood, or Bayesian). The focus in the interpandemic interval may be on research gaps left by industry trials. For activation in emergency, template Disease X protocols of syndromal design for pathogens yet unknown need to be stockpiled and updated regularly. Governance of a vaccine APT should be fully integrated into supranational pandemic response mechanisms. DISCUSSION A broad range of adaptive features can be applied in platform trials on vaccines. Faster knowledge generation comes with increased complexity of trial design. Design complexity should not preclude simple execution at trial sites. Continuously generated evidence represents a return on investment that will garner societal support for sustainable funding. Adaptive design features will naturally find their way into platform trials on vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ullrich Bethe
- Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Herderstrasse 52, 50931, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Cologne, Germany
| | - Zoi D Pana
- Medical School, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Herman Goossens
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute and Biobank Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Franz König
- Center for Medical Data Science, Institute of Medical Statistics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arnaud Marchant
- European Plotkin Institute for Vaccinology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Geert Molenberghs
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Data Science Institute, KU Leuven and Hasselt University, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Martin Posch
- Center for Medical Data Science, Institute of Medical Statistics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pierre Van Damme
- Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, VACCINOPOLIS, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Oliver A Cornely
- Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Herderstrasse 52, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
- Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Cologne, Germany.
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Nguyen QL, Hees K, Hernandez Penna S, König F, Posch M, Bofill Roig M, Meyer EL, Freitag MM, Parke T, Otte M, Dauben HP, Mielke T, Spiertz C, Mesenbrink P, Gidh-Jain M, Pierre S, Morello S, Hofner B. Regulatory Issues of Platform Trials: Learnings from EU-PEARL. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2024; 116:52-63. [PMID: 38529786 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.3244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Although platform trials have many benefits, the complexity of these designs may result not only in increased methodological but also regulatory and ethical challenges. These aspects were addressed as part of the IMI project EU Patient-Centric Clinical Trial Platforms (EU-PEARL). We reviewed the available guidelines on platform trials in the European Union and the United States. This is supported and complemented by feedback received from regulatory interactions with the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration. Throughout the project we collected the needs of all relevant stakeholders including ethics committees, regulators, and health technology assessment bodies through active dialog and dedicated stakeholder workshops. Furthermore, we focused on methodological aspects and where applicable identified the corresponding guidance. Learnings from the guideline review, regulatory interactions, and workshops are provided. Based on these, a master protocol template was developed. Issues that still need harmonization or clarification in guidelines or where further methodological research is needed are also presented. These include questions around clinical trial submissions in Europe, the need for multiplicity control across the whole master protocol, the use of non-concurrent controls, and the impact of different randomization schemes. Master protocols are an efficient and patient-centered clinical trial design that can expedite drug development. However, they can also introduce additional operational and regulatory complexities. It is important to understand the different requirements of stakeholders upfront and address them in the trial. While relevant guidance is increasing, early dialog with relevant stakeholders can help to further support such designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quynh Lan Nguyen
- Section Data Science and Methods, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Hees
- Section Data Science and Methods, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | | | - Franz König
- Institute for Medical Statistics, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Posch
- Institute for Medical Statistics, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marta Bofill Roig
- Institute for Medical Statistics, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elias Laurin Meyer
- Institute for Medical Statistics, Center for Medical Data Science, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Berry Consultants, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | - Tobias Mielke
- Statistics and Decision Sciences, Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Neuss, Germany
| | | | - Peter Mesenbrink
- Analytics, Development, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | - Benjamin Hofner
- Section Data Science and Methods, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
- Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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6
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Fabbri M, Rascol O, Foltynie T, Carroll C, Postuma RB, Porcher R, Corvol JC. Advantages and Challenges of Platform Trials for Disease Modifying Therapies in Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord 2024. [PMID: 38925541 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Traditional drug development in Parkinson's disease (PD) faces significant challenges because of its protracted timeline and high costs. In response, innovative master protocols are emerging and designed to address multiple research questions within a single overarching protocol. These trials may offer advantages such as increased efficiency, agility in adding new treatment arms, and potential cost savings. However, they also present organizational, methodological, funding, regulatory, and sponsorship challenges. We review the potential of master protocols, focusing on platform trials, for disease modifying therapies in PD. These trials share a common control group and allow for the termination or addition of treatment arms during a trial with non-predetermined end. Specific issues exist for a platform trial in the PD field considering the heterogeneity of patients in terms of phenotype, genotype and staging, the confounding effects of symptomatic treatments, and the choice of outcome measures with no consensus on a non-clinical biomarker to serve as a surrogate and the slowness of PD progression. We illustrate these aspects using the examples of the main PD platform trials currently in development with each one targeting distinct goals, populations, and outcomes. Overall, platform trials hold promise in expediting the evaluation of potential therapies for PD. However, it remains to be proven whether these theoretical benefits will translate into increased production of high-quality trial data. Success also depends on the willingness of pharmaceutical companies to engage in such trials and whether this approach will ultimately hasten the identification and licensing of effective disease-modifying drugs. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Fabbri
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Neurosciences, Clinical Investigation Center CIC1436, Toulouse Parkinson Expert Center, Toulouse NeuroToul Center of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (COEN), French NS-Park/F-CRIN Network, University of Toulouse 3, CHU of Toulouse, INSERM, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Rascol
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Neurosciences, Clinical Investigation Center CIC1436, Toulouse Parkinson Expert Center, Toulouse NeuroToul Center of Excellence in Neurodegeneration (COEN), French NS-Park/F-CRIN Network, University of Toulouse 3, CHU of Toulouse, INSERM, Toulouse, France
| | - Tom Foltynie
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Camille Carroll
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Ronald B Postuma
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Raphael Porcher
- Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, INRAE, Center for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Paris, France
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Jean Christophe Corvol
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute - ICM, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Inserm, CNRS, Department of Neurology, CIC Neurosciences, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, French NS-Park/F-CRIN Network, Paris, France
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7
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Tu Y, Renfro LA. Biomarker-driven basket trial designs: origins and new methodological developments. J Biopharm Stat 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38832723 DOI: 10.1080/10543406.2024.2358806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Due to increased use of gene sequencing techniques, understanding of cancer on a molecular level has evolved, in terms of both diagnosis and evaluation in response to initial therapies. In parallel, clinical trials meant to evaluate molecularly-driven interventions through assessment of both treatment effects and putative predictive biomarker effects are being employed to advance the goals of precision medicine. Basket trials investigate one or more biomarker-targeted therapies across multiple cancer types in a tumor location agnostic fashion. The review article offers an overview of the traditional forms of such designs, the practical challenges facing each type of design, and then review novel adaptations proposed in the last few years, categorized into Bayesian and Classical Frequentist perspectives. The review article concludes by summarizing potential advantages and limitations of the new trial design solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Tu
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lindsay A Renfro
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California and Children's Oncology Group, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Sasaki M, Sato H, Uemura Y, Mikami A, Ichihara N, Fujitani S, Kondo M, Doi Y, Morino E, Tokita D, Ohmagari N, Sugiura W, Hirakawa A. How Much More Efficient Are Adaptive Platform Trials Than Multiple Stand-Alone Trials? A Comprehensive Simulation Study for Streamlining Drug Development During a Pandemic. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2024; 115:1372-1382. [PMID: 38441177 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.3224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is growing interest in utilizing adaptive platform clinical trials (APTs), in which multiple drugs are compared with a single common control group, such as a placebo or standard-of-care group. APTs evaluate several drugs for one disease and accept additions or exclusions of drugs as the trials progress; however, little is known about the efficiency of APTs over multiple stand-alone trials. In this study, we simulated the total development period, total sample size, and statistical operating characteristics of APTs and multiple stand-alone trials in drug development settings for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Simulation studies using selected scenarios reconfirmed several findings regarding the efficiency of APTs. The APTs without staggered addition of drugs showed a shorter total development period than stand-alone trials, but the difference rapidly diminished if patient's enrollment was accelerated during the trials owing to the spread of infection. APTs with staggered addition of drugs still have the possibility of reducing the total development period compared with multiple stand-alone trials in some cases. Our study demonstrated that APTs could improve efficiency relative to multiple stand-alone trials regarding the total development period and total sample size without undermining statistical validity; however, this improvement varies depending on the speed of patient enrollment, sample size, presence/absence of family-wise error rate adjustment, allocation ratio between drug and placebo groups, and interval of staggered addition of drugs. Given the complexity of planning and implementing APT, the decision to implement APT during a pandemic must be made carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masanao Sasaki
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sato
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukari Uemura
- Biostatistics Section, Department of Data Science, Center of Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayako Mikami
- Center for Clinical Research, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nao Ichihara
- Department of Healthcare Quality Assessment, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Fujitani
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masashi Kondo
- Center for Clinical Trial and Research Support, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yohei Doi
- Departments of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Eriko Morino
- Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tokita
- Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Ohmagari
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wataru Sugiura
- Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hirakawa
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
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Zhou T, Ji Y. Bayesian Methods for Information Borrowing in Basket Trials: An Overview. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:251. [PMID: 38254740 PMCID: PMC10813856 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Basket trials allow simultaneous evaluation of a single therapy across multiple cancer types or subtypes of the same cancer. Since the same treatment is tested across all baskets, it may be desirable to borrow information across them to improve the statistical precision and power in estimating and detecting the treatment effects in different baskets. We review recent developments in Bayesian methods for the design and analysis of basket trials, focusing on the mechanism of information borrowing. We explain the common components of these methods, such as a prior model for the treatment effects that embodies an assumption of exchangeability. We also discuss the distinct features of these methods that lead to different degrees of borrowing. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate the impact of information borrowing on the operating characteristics of these methods and discuss its broader implications for drug development. Examples of basket trials are presented in both phase I and phase II settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianjian Zhou
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Yuan Ji
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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10
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Kazdin AE. Drawing causal inferences from randomized controlled trials in psychotherapy research. Psychother Res 2023; 33:991-1003. [PMID: 36226476 DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2022.2130112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Randomized control trials (RCTs) have played a critical role in psychotherapy research. This article discusses RCTs in the context of the criteria for drawing causal inferences in psychotherapy and intervention research more generally. The article also highlights underused variations of RCTs and how they not only establish causal relations but also address critical questions that can improve our intervention portfolio and patient care. CONCLUSION Random assignment is discussed in terms of what it can and cannot do in relation to drawing conclusions about the effects of interventions. Finally, RCTs are examined in the context of multiple questions that can guide therapy research, improve patient care, and develop treatments that reach people in need of psychological services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E Kazdin
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Bakker E, Starokozhko V, Kraaijvanger JWM, Heerspink HJL, Mol PGM. Precision medicine in regulatory decision making: Biomarkers used for patient selection in European Public Assessment Reports from 2018 to 2020. Clin Transl Sci 2023; 16:2394-2412. [PMID: 37853917 PMCID: PMC10651650 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers can guide precision medicine in clinical trials and practice. They can increase clinical trials' efficiency through selection of study populations more likely to benefit from treatment, thus increasing statistical power and reducing sample size requirements or study duration. We performed a narrative synthesis to explore biomarker utilization for patient selection to guide precision medicine trials in marketing authorization dossiers of centrally approved medicines in Europe between 2018 and 2020 and analyzed in-depth those that eventually included biomarkers in the medicines' indications. From 119 eligible products, 26 included a biomarker in the indication, of which most were oncology products (n = 15). Included biomarkers were often known from literature or from previously approved products in the European Union or the United States. Additionally, 52 dossiers mentioned one or more biomarkers for patient selection in their clinical efficacy and safety information. Although these were not always included in the medicines' indication, they were often implicitly embedded in condition definitions adopted from clinical guidelines or practice. In 15 out of the 26 medicines with a biomarker-guided indication, only biomarker-positive populations were included in the main clinical studies supporting the marketing authorization. These studies were mostly randomized controlled trials or single-arm trials; only two products were studied for multiple indications in an innovative basket trial. Definitions of biomarkers could be subject of debate and needed adaptation after post hoc analyses requested by the assessment committee in four cases, stressing the importance of thorough justification of these definitions to include the right population for an optimal benefit-risk balance, enabling precise medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Bakker
- University Medical Centre GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Viktoriia Starokozhko
- University Medical Centre GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, CBG‐MEBUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jet W. M. Kraaijvanger
- Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, CBG‐MEBUtrechtThe Netherlands
- VU University AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | - Peter G. M. Mol
- University Medical Centre GroningenUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, CBG‐MEBUtrechtThe Netherlands
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12
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Le Tourneau C, André F, Helland Å, Mileshkin L, Minnaard W, Schiel A, Taskén K, Thomas DM, Veronese ML, Durán-Pacheco G, Leyens L, Rufibach K, Thomas M, Krämer A. Modified study designs to expand treatment options in personalised oncology: a multistakeholder view. Eur J Cancer 2023; 194:113278. [PMID: 37820553 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.113278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Personalised oncology, whereby patients are given therapies based on their molecular tumour profile, is rapidly becoming an essential part of optimal clinical care, at least partly facilitated by recent advances in next-generation sequencing-based technology using liquid- and tissue-based biopsies. Consequently, clinical trials have shifted in approach, from traditional studies evaluating cytotoxic chemotherapy in largely histology-based populations to modified, biomarker-driven studies (e.g. basket, umbrella, platform) of molecularly guided therapies and cancer immunotherapies in selected patient subsets. Such modified study designs may assess, within the same trial structure, multiple cancer types and treatments, and should incorporate a multistakeholder perspective. This is key to generating complementary, fit-for-purpose and timely evidence for molecularly guided therapies that can be used as proof-of-concept to inform further study designs, lead to approval by regulatory authorities and be used as confirmation of clinical benefit for health technology assessment bodies. In general, the future of cancer clinical trials requires a framework for the application of innovative technologies and dynamic design methodologies, in order to efficiently transform scientific discoveries into clinical utility. Next-generation, modified studies that involve the joint efforts of all key stakeholders will offer individualised strategies that ultimately contribute to globalised knowledge and collective learning. In this review, we outline the background and purpose of such modified study designs and detail key aspects from a multistakeholder perspective. We also provide methodological considerations for designing the studies and highlight how insights from already-ongoing studies may address current challenges and opportunities in the era of personalised oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Le Tourneau
- Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), Institut Curie, INSERM U900 Research Unit, Paris-Saclay University, Paris, France
| | | | - Åslaug Helland
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Linda Mileshkin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | - Kjetil Taskén
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - David M Thomas
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | | | | | - Lada Leyens
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Alwin Krämer
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular Hematology/Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Department of Internal Medicine V, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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13
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Hosack T, Thomas T, Ravindran R, Uhlig HH, Travis SPL, Buckley CD. Inflammation across tissues: can shared cell biology help design smarter trials? Nat Rev Rheumatol 2023; 19:666-674. [PMID: 37666996 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-023-01007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are responsible for substantial global disease burden and associated health-care costs. Traditional models of research and service delivery silo their management within organ-based medical disciplines. Very often patients with disease in one organ have comorbid involvement in another, suggesting shared pathogenic pathways. Moreover, different IMIDs are often treated with the same drugs (including glucocorticoids, immunoregulators and biologics). Unlocking the cellular basis of these diseases remains a major challenge, leading us to ask why, if these diseases have so much in common, they are not investigated in a common manner. A tissue-based, cellular understanding of inflammation might pave the way for cross-disease, cross-discipline basket trials (testing one drug across two or more diseases) to reduce the risk of failure of early-phase drug development in IMIDs. This new approach will enable rapid assessment of the efficacy of new therapeutic agents in cross-disease translational research in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Hosack
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tom Thomas
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rahul Ravindran
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hans Holm Uhlig
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon Piers Leigh Travis
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christopher Dominic Buckley
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Institute for Inflammation and Aging, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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14
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Moser CB, Chew KW, Ritz J, Newell M, Javan AC, Eron JJ, Daar ES, Wohl DA, Currier JS, Smith DM, Hughes MD. Pooling Different Placebos as a Control Group in a Randomized Platform Trial: Benefits and Challenges From Experience in the ACTIV-2 COVID-19 Trial. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:S92-S100. [PMID: 37650234 PMCID: PMC10686688 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive platform trials were implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to rapidly evaluate therapeutics, including the placebo-controlled phase 2/3 ACTIV-2 trial, which studied 7 investigational agents with diverse routes of administration. For each agent, safety and efficacy outcomes were compared to a pooled placebo control group, which included participants who received a placebo for that agent or for other agents in concurrent evaluation. A 2-step randomization framework was implemented to facilitate this. Over the study duration, the pooled placebo design achieved a reduction in sample size of 6% versus a trial involving distinct placebo control groups for evaluating each agent. However, a 26% reduction was achieved during the period when multiple agents were in parallel phase 2 evaluation. We discuss some of the complexities implementing the pooled placebo design versus a design involving nonoverlapping control groups, with the aim of informing the design of future platform trials. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04518410.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlee B Moser
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kara W Chew
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Justin Ritz
- Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew Newell
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Arzhang Cyrus Javan
- Division of AIDS/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph J Eron
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eric S Daar
- Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - David A Wohl
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Judith S Currier
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Davey M Smith
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Michael D Hughes
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Biostatistics in AIDS Research, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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15
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Robertson DS, Wason JMS, König F, Posch M, Jaki T. Online error rate control for platform trials. Stat Med 2023; 42:2475-2495. [PMID: 37005003 PMCID: PMC7614610 DOI: 10.1002/sim.9733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Platform trials evaluate multiple experimental treatments under a single master protocol, where new treatment arms are added to the trial over time. Given the multiple treatment comparisons, there is the potential for inflation of the overall type I error rate, which is complicated by the fact that the hypotheses are tested at different times and are not necessarily pre-specified. Online error rate control methodology provides a possible solution to the problem of multiplicity for platform trials where a relatively large number of hypotheses are expected to be tested over time. In the online multiple hypothesis testing framework, hypotheses are tested one-by-one over time, where at each time-step an analyst decides whether to reject the current null hypothesis without knowledge of future tests but based solely on past decisions. Methodology has recently been developed for online control of the false discovery rate as well as the familywise error rate (FWER). In this article, we describe how to apply online error rate control to the platform trial setting, present extensive simulation results, and give some recommendations for the use of this new methodology in practice. We show that the algorithms for online error rate control can have a substantially lower FWER than uncorrected testing, while still achieving noticeable gains in power when compared with the use of a Bonferroni correction. We also illustrate how online error rate control would have impacted a currently ongoing platform trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S. Robertson
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, School of Clinical MedicineUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - James M. S. Wason
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUK
| | - Franz König
- Section of Medical StatisticsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Martin Posch
- Section of Medical StatisticsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Thomas Jaki
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, School of Clinical MedicineUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Faculty of Informatics and Data Science, University of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
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16
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Kessels R, May AM, Koopman M, Roes KCB. The Trial within Cohorts (TwiCs) study design in oncology: experience and methodological reflections. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:117. [PMID: 37179306 PMCID: PMC10183126 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-01941-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A Trial within Cohorts (TwiCs) study design is a trial design that uses the infrastructure of an observational cohort study to initiate a randomized trial. Upon cohort enrollment, the participants provide consent for being randomized in future studies without being informed. Once a new treatment is available, eligible cohort participants are randomly assigned to the treatment or standard of care. Patients randomized to the treatment arm are offered the new treatment, which they can choose to refuse. Patients who refuse will receive standard of care instead. Patients randomized to the standard of care arm receive no information about the trial and continue receiving standard of care as part of the cohort study. Standard cohort measures are used for outcome comparisons. The TwiCs study design aims to overcome some issues encountered in standard Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). An example of an issue in standard RCTs is the slow patient accrual. A TwiCs study aims to improve this by selecting patients using a cohort and only offering the intervention to patients in the intervention arm. In oncology, the TwiCs study design has gained increasing interest during the last decade. Despite its potential advantages over RCTs, the TwiCs study design has several methodological challenges that need careful consideration when planning a TwiCs study. In this article, we focus on these challenges and reflect on them using experiences from TwiCs studies initiated in oncology. Important methodological challenges that are discussed are the timing of randomization, the issue of non-compliance (refusal) after randomization in the intervention arm, and the definition of the intention-to-treat effect in a TwiCs study and how this effect is related to its counterpart in standard RCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob Kessels
- Dutch Oncology Research Platform, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anne M May
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, STR 6.131 , P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Miriam Koopman
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Kit C B Roes
- Department of Health Evidence, Radboud University Medical Center, Section Biostatistics, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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17
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Asano J, Sato H, Hirakawa A. Practical basket design for binary outcomes with control of family-wise error rate. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:52. [PMID: 36849940 PMCID: PMC9972792 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-01872-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A basket trial is a type of clinical trial in which eligibility is based on the presence of specific molecular characteristics across subpopulations with different cancer types. The existing basket designs with Bayesian hierarchical models often improve the efficiency of evaluating therapeutic effects; however, these models calibrate the type I error rate based on the results of simulation studies under various selected scenarios. The theoretical control of family-wise error rate (FWER) is important for decision-making regarding drug approval. METHODS In this study, we propose a new Bayesian two-stage design with one interim analysis for controlling FWER at the target level, along with the formulations of type I and II error rates. Since the difficulty lies in the complexity of the theoretical formulation of the type I error rate, we devised the simulation-based method to approximate the type I error rate. RESULTS The proposed design enabled adjustment of the cutoff value to control the FWER at the target value in the final analysis. The simulation studies demonstrated that the proposed design can be used to control the well-approximated FWER below the target value even in situations where the number of enrolled patients differed among subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS The accrual number of patients is sometimes unable to reach the pre-defined value; therefore, existing basket designs may not ensure defined operating characteristics before beginning the trial. The proposed design that enables adjustment of the cutoff value to control FWER at the target value based on the results in the final analysis would be a better alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junichi Asano
- Biostatistics Group, Center for Product Evaluation, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Sato
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hirakawa
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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18
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Brannath W, Hillner C, Rohmeyer K. The population-wise error rate for clinical trials with overlapping populations. Stat Methods Med Res 2023; 32:334-352. [PMID: 36453057 PMCID: PMC9896298 DOI: 10.1177/09622802221135249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
We introduce a new multiple type I error criterion for clinical trials with multiple, overlapping populations. Such trials are of interest in precision medicine where the goal is to develop treatments that are targeted to specific sub-populations defined by genetic and/or clinical biomarkers. The new criterion is based on the observation that not all type I errors are relevant to all patients in the overall population. If disjoint sub-populations are considered, no multiplicity adjustment appears necessary, since a claim in one sub-population does not affect patients in the other ones. For intersecting sub-populations we suggest to control the average multiple type I error rate, i.e. the probability that a randomly selected patient will be exposed to an inefficient treatment. We call this the population-wise error rate, exemplify it by a number of examples and illustrate how to control it with an adjustment of critical boundaries or adjusted p -values. We furthermore define corresponding simultaneous confidence intervals. We finally illustrate the power gain achieved by passing from family-wise to population-wise error rate control with two simple examples and a recently suggested multiple-testing approach for umbrella trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner Brannath
- University of Bremen, Institute for Statistics and Competence Center for Clinical Trials, Bremen, Germany
| | - Charlie Hillner
- University of Bremen, Institute for Statistics and Competence Center for Clinical Trials, Bremen, Germany
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19
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Parker RA, Weir CJ, Pham TM, White IR, Stallard N, Parmar MKB, Swingler RJ, Dakin RS, Pal S, Chandran S. Statistical analysis plan for the motor neuron disease systematic multi-arm adaptive randomised trial (MND-SMART). Trials 2023; 24:29. [PMID: 36647114 PMCID: PMC9843918 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-07007-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MND-SMART is a platform, multi-arm, multi-stage, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial recruiting people with motor neuron disease. Initially, the treatments memantine and trazodone will each be compared against placebo, but other investigational treatments will be introduced into the trial later. The co-primary outcomes are the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised (ALS-FRS-R) functional outcome, which is assessed longitudinally, and overall survival. METHODS Initially in MND-SMART, participants are randomised 1:1:1 via a minimisation algorithm to receive placebo or one of the two investigational treatments with up to 531 to be randomised in total. The comparisons between each research arm and placebo will be conducted in four stages, with the opportunity to cease further randomisations to poorly performing research arms at the end of stages 1 or 2. The final ALS-FRS-R analysis will be at the end of stage 3 and final survival analysis at the end of stage 4. The estimands for the co-primary outcomes are described in detail. The primary analysis of ALS-FRS-R at the end of stages 1 to 3 will involve fitting a normal linear mixed model to the data to calculate a mean difference in rate of ALS-FRS-R change between each research treatment and placebo. The pairwise type 1 error rate will be controlled, because each treatment comparison will generate its own distinct and separate interpretation. This publication is based on a formal statistical analysis plan document that was finalised and signed on 18 May 2022. DISCUSSION In developing the statistical analysis plan, we had to carefully consider several issues such as multiple testing, estimand specification, interim analyses, and statistical analysis of the repeated measurements of ALS-FRS-R. This analysis plan attempts to balance multiple factors, including minimisation of bias, maximising power and precision, and deriving clinically interpretable summaries of treatment effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT Number, 2019-000099-41. Registered 2 October 2019, https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=mnd-smart ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04302870 . Registered 10 March 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Parker
- Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Christopher J Weir
- Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tra My Pham
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ian R White
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nigel Stallard
- Statistics and Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Mahesh K B Parmar
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Robert J Swingler
- Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Rachel S Dakin
- Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Suvankar Pal
- Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Euan Macdonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre of Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
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20
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Roustit M, Demarcq O, Laporte S, Barthélémy P, Chassany O, Cucherat M, Demotes J, Diebolt V, Espérou H, Fouret C, Galaup A, Gambotti L, Gourio C, Guérin A, Labruyère C, Paoletti X, Porcher R, Simon T, Varoqueaux N. Les essais plateformes ☆. Therapie 2023; 78:19-28. [PMID: 36581520 PMCID: PMC9721267 DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Les essais plateformes connaissent depuis quelques années un essor important, amplifié récemment par la pandémie de coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). La mise en œuvre d’un essai plateforme s’avère particulièrement utile dans certaines pathologies, notamment lorsqu’il y a un nombre important de candidats médicaments à évaluer, une évolution rapide du traitement de référence ou dans les situations de besoin urgent d’évaluation, au cours desquelles la mutualisation des protocoles et des infrastructures permet d’optimiser le nombre de patients à inclure, les coûts et les délais de réalisation de l’investigation. Toutefois, la spécificité des essais plateformes soulève des problématiques méthodologiques, éthiques et règlementaires, qui ont fait l’objet de la table ronde et qui sont exposées dans cet article. La table ronde a également été l’occasion d’aborder la complexité de la promotion et de la gestion des données liée à la multiplicité des partenaires, le financement et la gouvernance de ces essais, et le niveau d’acceptabilité de leurs résultats par les autorités compétentes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Roustit
- Inserm CIC1406, university Grenoble Alpes, CHU de Grenoble, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Olivier Demarcq
- Pfizer, direction des affaires médicales, 75668 Paris, France
| | - Silvy Laporte
- Inserm, U 1059 Sainbiose, Mines Saint-Étienne, unité de recherche clinique, innovation, pharmacologie, université Jean Monnet, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France
| | | | - Olivier Chassany
- Unité de recherche clinique en économie de la santé (URC-ECO), hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, AP-HP, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Michel Cucherat
- metaEvidence.org, service hospitalo-universitaire de pharmacologie et toxicologie, hospices civils de Lyon, 69000 Lyon, France
| | | | - Vincent Diebolt
- F-CRIN, UMS 015, Pavillon Leriche, hôpital Purpan/CHU de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
| | - Hélène Espérou
- Inserm, pôle de recherche clinique, Institut de santé publique, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Fouret
- Medtronic, direction des affaires scientifiques, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Laetitia Gambotti
- Département recherche clinique, Institut national du cancer, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | | | | | - Carine Labruyère
- Inserm, U 1059 Sainbiose, Mines Saint-Étienne, unité de recherche clinique, innovation, pharmacologie, université Jean Monnet, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Xavier Paoletti
- Inserm U900, équipe de statistique pour la médecine de précision (STAMPM), Institut Curie, université de Versailles St Quentin/Paris-Saclay, 92210 St-Cloud, France
| | - Raphael Porcher
- Inserm, Inra, centre d'épidémiologie clinique, université Paris Cité, METHODS Team, CRESS, Hôtel-Dieu, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Tabassome Simon
- Service de pharmacologie, plateforme de recherche clinique de l'Est parisien, Sorbonne université, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75012 Paris, France
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21
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Roustit M, Demarcq O, Laporte S, Barthélémy P, Chassany O, Cucherat M, Demotes J, Diebolt V, Espérou H, Fouret C, Galaup A, Gambotti L, Gourio C, Guérin A, Labruyère C, Paoletti X, Porcher R, Simon T, Varoqueaux N. Platform trials. Therapie 2023; 78:29-38. [PMID: 36529559 PMCID: PMC9756081 DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
For the past few years, platform trials have experienced a significant increase, recently amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of a platform trial is particularly useful in certain pathologies, particularly when there is a significant number of drug candidates to be assessed, a rapid evolution of the standard of care or in situations of urgent need for evaluation, during which the pooling of protocols and infrastructure optimizes the number of patients to be enrolled, the costs, and the deadlines for carrying out the investigation. However, the specificity of platform trials raises methodological, ethical, and regulatory issues, which have been the subject of the round table and which are presented in this article. The round table was also an opportunity to discuss the complexity of sponsorship and data management related to the multiplicity of partners, funding, and governance of these trials, and the level of acceptability of their findings by the competent authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Roustit
- Inserm CIC1406, university Grenoble Alpes, CHU de Grenoble, 38000 Grenoble, France,Corresponding author. Centre d’investigation clinique – Inserm CIC1406, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38043 Grenoble cedex 09, France
| | - Olivier Demarcq
- Pfizer, direction des affaires médicales, 75668 Paris, France
| | - Silvy Laporte
- Inserm, U 1059 Sainbiose, Mines Saint-Étienne, unité de recherche clinique, innovation, pharmacologie, université Jean Monnet, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France
| | | | - Olivier Chassany
- Unité de recherche clinique en économie de la santé (URC-ECO), hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, AP–HP, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Michel Cucherat
- metaEvidence.org, service hospitalo-universitaire de pharmacologie et toxicologie, hospices civils de Lyon, 69000 Lyon, France
| | | | - Vincent Diebolt
- F-CRIN, UMS 015, Pavillon Leriche, hôpital Purpan/CHU de Toulouse, 31059 Toulouse, France
| | - Hélène Espérou
- Inserm, pôle de recherche clinique, Institut de santé publique, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Fouret
- Medtronic, direction des affaires scientifiques, 75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Laetitia Gambotti
- Département recherche clinique, Institut national du cancer, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | | | | | - Carine Labruyère
- Inserm, U 1059 Sainbiose, Mines Saint-Étienne, unité de recherche clinique, innovation, pharmacologie, université Jean Monnet, CHU de Saint-Étienne, 42023 Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Xavier Paoletti
- Inserm U900, équipe de statistique pour la médecine de précision (STAMPM), Institut Curie, université de Versailles St Quentin/Paris-Saclay, 92210 St-Cloud, France
| | - Raphael Porcher
- Inserm, Inra, centre d’épidémiologie clinique, université Paris Cité, METHODS Team, CRESS, Hôtel-Dieu, Assistance publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Tabassome Simon
- Service de pharmacologie, plateforme de recherche clinique de l’Est parisien, Sorbonne université, Assistance publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, 75012 Paris, France
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22
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Zehetmayer S, Posch M, Koenig F. Online control of the False Discovery Rate in group-sequential platform trials. Stat Methods Med Res 2022; 31:2470-2485. [PMID: 36189481 PMCID: PMC10130539 DOI: 10.1177/09622802221129051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
When testing multiple hypotheses, a suitable error rate should be controlled even in exploratory trials. Conventional methods to control the False Discovery Rate assume that all p-values are available at the time point of test decision. In platform trials, however, treatment arms enter and leave the trial at different times during its conduct. Therefore, the actual number of treatments and hypothesis tests is not fixed in advance and hypotheses are not tested at once, but sequentially. Recently, for such a setting the concept of online control of the False Discovery Rate was introduced. We propose several heuristic variations of the LOND procedure (significance Levels based On Number of Discoveries) that incorporate interim analyses for platform trials, and study their online False Discovery Rate via simulations. To adjust for the interim looks spending functions are applied with O'Brien-Fleming or Pocock type group-sequential boundaries. The power depends on the prior distribution of effect sizes, for example, whether true alternatives are uniformly distributed over time or not. We consider the choice of design parameters for the LOND procedure to maximize the overall power and investigate the impact on the False Discovery Rate by including both concurrent and non-concurrent control data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Zehetmayer
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Posch
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franz Koenig
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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23
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Collignon O, Schiel A, Burman C, Rufibach K, Posch M, Bretz F. Estimands and Complex Innovative Designs. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2022; 112:1183-1190. [PMID: 35253205 PMCID: PMC9790227 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Since the release of the ICH E9(R1) (International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use Addendum on Estimands and Sensitivity Analysis in Clinical Trials to the Guideline on Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials) document in 2019, the estimand framework has become a fundamental part of clinical trial protocols. In parallel, complex innovative designs have gained increased popularity in drug development, in particular in early development phases or in difficult experimental situations. While the estimand framework is relevant to any study in which a treatment effect is estimated, experience is lacking as regards its application to these designs. In a basket trial for example, should a different estimand be specified for each subpopulation of interest, defined, for example, by cancer site? Or can a single estimand focusing on the general population (defined, for example, by the positivity to a certain biomarker) be used? In the case of platform trials, should a different estimand be proposed for each drug investigated? In this work we discuss possible ways of implementing the estimand framework for different types of complex innovative designs. We consider trials that allow adding or selecting experimental treatment arms, modifying the control arm or the standard of care, and selecting or pooling populations. We also address the potentially data-driven, adaptive selection of estimands in an ongoing trial and disentangle certain statistical issues that pertain to estimation rather than to estimands, such as the borrowing of nonconcurrent information. We hope this discussion will facilitate the implementation of the estimand framework and its description in the study protocol when the objectives of the trial require complex innovative designs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carl‐Fredrik Burman
- Statistical Innovation, Data Science & Artificial IntelligenceAstraZeneca Research & DevelopmentGothenburgSweden
| | - Kaspar Rufibach
- Methods, Collaboration, and Outreach Group, Product Development Data SciencesF.Hoffmann‐La RocheBaselSwitzerland
| | - Martin Posch
- Section for Medical StatisticsCenter for Medical Statistics Informatics, and Intelligent SystemsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Frank Bretz
- Section for Medical StatisticsCenter for Medical Statistics Informatics, and Intelligent SystemsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria,NovartisBaselSwitzerland
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24
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Innovations in Clinical Development in Rare Diseases of Children and Adults: Small Populations and/or Small Patients. Paediatr Drugs 2022; 24:657-669. [PMID: 36241954 DOI: 10.1007/s40272-022-00538-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Many of the afflictions of children are rare diseases. This creates numerous drug development challenges related to small populations, including limited information about the disease state, enrollment challenges, and diminished incentives for pediatric development of novel therapies by pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors. We review selected innovations in clinical development that may partially mitigate some of these difficulties, starting with the concept of development efficiency for individual clinical trials, clinical programs (involving multiple trials for a single drug), and clinical portfolios of multiple drugs, and decision analysis as a tool to optimize efficiency. Development efficiency is defined as the ability to reach equally rigorous or more rigorous conclusions in less time, with fewer trial participants, or with fewer resources. We go on to discuss efficient methods for matching targeted therapies to biomarker-defined subgroups, methods for eliminating or reducing the need for natural history data to guide rare disease development, the use of basket trials to enhance efficiency by grouping multiple similar disease applications in a single clinical trial, and the use of alternative data sources including historical controls to augment or replace concurrent controls in clinical studies. Greater understanding and broader application of these methods could lead to improved therapies and/or more widespread and rapid access to novel therapies for rare diseases in both children and adults.
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25
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Ouma LO, Wason JMS, Zheng H, Wilson N, Grayling M. Design and analysis of umbrella trials: Where do we stand? Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1037439. [PMID: 36313987 PMCID: PMC9596938 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1037439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The efficiencies that master protocol designs can bring to modern drug development have seen their increased utilization in oncology. Growing interest has also resulted in their consideration in non-oncology settings. Umbrella trials are one class of master protocol design that evaluates multiple targeted therapies in a single disease setting. Despite the existence of several reviews of master protocols, the statistical considerations of umbrella trials have received more limited attention. Methods We conduct a systematic review of the literature on umbrella trials, examining both the statistical methods that are available for their design and analysis, and also their use in practice. We pay particular attention to considerations for umbrella designs applied outside of oncology. Findings We identified 38 umbrella trials. To date, most umbrella trials have been conducted in early phase settings (73.7%, 28/38) and in oncology (92.1%, 35/38). The quality of statistical information available about conducted umbrella trials to date is poor; for example, it was impossible to ascertain how sample size was determined in the majority of trials (55.3%, 21/38). The literature on statistical methods for umbrella trials is currently sparse. Conclusions Umbrella trials have potentially great utility to expedite drug development, including outside of oncology. However, to enable lessons to be effectively learned from early use of such designs, there is a need for higher-quality reporting of umbrella trials. Furthermore, if the potential of umbrella trials is to be realized, further methodological research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke O. Ouma
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - James M. S. Wason
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Haiyan Zheng
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Wilson
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Grayling
- Biostatistics Research Group, Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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26
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Callréus T. The Randomised Controlled Trial at the Intersection of Research Ethics and Innovation. Pharmaceut Med 2022; 36:287-293. [PMID: 35877037 PMCID: PMC9309994 DOI: 10.1007/s40290-022-00438-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The randomised controlled trial (RCT) has been considered for a long time as the gold standard for evidence generation to support regulatory decision making for medicines. The randomisation procedure involves an ethical dilemma since it means leaving the treatment choice to chance. Although currently contested, the ethical justification for the RCT that has gained widespread acceptance is the notion of 'clinical equipoise'. This state exists when "there is no consensus within the expert clinical community about the comparative merits of the alternatives to be tested"; it is argued that this confers the ethical grounds for the conduct of an RCT. The prominent position of the RCT is being challenged by new therapeutic modalities for which this study design may be unsuitable. Moreover, alternative approaches to evidence generation represent another area where innovation may have implications for the relevance of the RCT. Against the backdrop of the debate around the equipoise principle and some recent therapeutic and data analytical innovations, the aim of this article is to explore the current standing of the RCT from a regulatory perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torbjörn Callréus
- Malta Medicines Authority, Life Science Park, Sir Temi Żammit, San Gwann, 3000, Malta.
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27
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Kazdin AE. Expanding the scope, reach, and impact of evidence-based psychological treatments. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2022; 76:101744. [PMID: 35738691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The development and evaluation of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for mental disorders represent an enormous advance with continued progress designed to understand the techniques and increase their use in clinical practice. This article suggests ways of expanding research along several fronts including the extension of the types of randomized controlled trials that are conducted, the use of more diverse samples to encompass different cultures and countries, the expansion of assessments to better reflect client functioning in everyday life, consideration of the impact of treatments for mental disorders on physical health, the careful evaluation of exceptional responders, the use of mixed-methods research, and the development of versions of EBTs that can be scaled. EBTs have been studied in well-controlled settings and extended to clinical settings, albeit less often. The least attention has been accorded their evaluation on a large scale to reach a greater portion of people in need of services but who do not receive any treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E Kazdin
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, 2 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT, 06520-8205, USA.
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28
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The Role of Master Protocols in Pediatric Drug Development. Ther Innov Regul Sci 2022; 56:895-902. [PMID: 36045315 PMCID: PMC9433127 DOI: 10.1007/s43441-022-00448-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Master protocols are innovative clinical trial designs that enable new approaches to analytics and operations, creating value for patients and drug developers. To date, the use of master protocols in pediatric drug development has been limited, focused primarily on pediatric oncology with limited experience in rare and ultra-rare pediatric diseases. This article explores the application of master protocols to pediatric programs required by FDA and EMA based on adult developmental programs. These required programs involve multiple assets developed in limited pediatric populations for registrational purposes. However, these required programs include the possibility for extrapolation of efficacy and safety from the adult population. The use of master protocols is a potential solution to the challenge of conducting clinical trials in small pediatric populations provided that such use would improve enrollment or reduce the required sample size. Toward that end, Janssen and Lilly have been working on a collaborative cross-company pediatric platform trial in pediatric Crohn's disease using an innovative Bayesian analysis. We describe how two competing companies can work together to design and execute the proposed platform, focusing on selected aspects-the usefulness of a single infrastructure, the regulatory submission process, the choice of control group, and the use of pediatric extrapolation. Master protocols offer the potential for great benefit in pediatrics by streamlining clinical development, with the goal of reducing the delay in pediatric marketing approvals when compared to adults so that children have timelier access to safe and effective medications.
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29
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Saville BR, Berry DA, Berry NS, Viele K, Berry SM. The Bayesian Time Machine: Accounting for temporal drift in multi-arm platform trials. Clin Trials 2022; 19:490-501. [PMID: 35993547 DOI: 10.1177/17407745221112013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multi-arm platform trials investigate multiple agents simultaneously, typically with staggered entry and exit of experimental treatment arms versus a shared control arm. In such settings, there is considerable debate whether to limit analyses for a treatment arm to concurrent randomized control subjects or to allow comparisons to both concurrent and non-concurrent (pooled) control subjects. The potential bias from temporal drift over time is at the core of this debate. METHODS We propose time-adjusted analyses, including a "Bayesian Time Machine," to model potential temporal drift in the entire study population, such that primary analyses can incorporate all randomized control subjects from the platform trial. We conduct a simulation study to assess performance relative to utilizing concurrent or pooled controls. RESULTS In multi-arm platform trials with staggered entry, analyses adjusting for temporal drift (either Bayesian or frequentist) have superior estimation of treatment effects and favorable testing properties compared to analyses using either concurrent or pooled controls. The Bayesian Time Machine generally provides estimates with greater precision and smaller mean square error than alternative approaches, at the risk of small bias and small Type I error inflation. CONCLUSIONS The Bayesian Time Machine provides a compromise between bias and precision by smoothing estimates across time and leveraging all available data for the estimation of treatment effects. Prior distributions controlling the behavior of dynamic smoothing across time must be pre-specified and carefully calibrated to the unique context of each trial, appropriately accounting for the population, disease, and endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Saville
- Berry Consultants, LLC, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Donald A Berry
- Berry Consultants, LLC, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, USA
| | | | - Kert Viele
- Berry Consultants, LLC, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Scott M Berry
- Berry Consultants, LLC, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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30
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Advancing innovative clinical trials to efficiently deliver medicines to patients. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:543-544. [PMID: 35760887 PMCID: PMC9834420 DOI: 10.1038/d41573-022-00109-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Complex innovative designs in clinical trials have the potential to increase efficiency and lower the cost of drug development, improving patient access to therapies. This article highlights designs and approaches based on a meeting linked to an ongoing FDA pilot program in the field.
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31
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Porcher R, Ravaud P, Resche-Rigon M, Tharaux PL, Mariette X, Hermine O. COVID-19 drug research and the cohort multiple randomised controlled trial design. Eur Respir J 2022; 60:13993003.01187-2022. [PMID: 35896213 PMCID: PMC9353064 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01187-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We read with interest the comment of R. Dal-Ré on the CORIMUNO-19 trials
design [1–5]. The key argument is that the cohort multiple randomised
controlled trial (cmRCT) design implies an alteration of the informed process
that can only be justified if three requirements are fulfilled: the research has
important social value, it poses no more than minimal risks to participants, and
it would be impracticable to carry out without consent process modification [6].
R. Dal-Ré acknowledges that the first two requirements were fulfilled for
CORIMUNO-19 trials, but argues that, given the huge number of patients
hospitalised with severe or critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in
March 2020, trials would have been feasible without consent modification. The use of cohort multiple randomised controlled trials and epidemic
crises https://bit.ly/39Obd4N
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippe Ravaud
- Statistic, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Pierre Louis Tharaux
- Paris Cardiovascular Centre - PARCC, INSERM, Paris, France.,Paris Cardiovascular Centre - PARCC, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Mariette
- Rheumatology, Université Paris-Saclay Faculté de Médecine, Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France
| | - Olivier Hermine
- INSERM U 1163 laboratory of physiopathology of hematological disorders and their treatment, Imagine Institute, Paris, France .,Hematology, Hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants malades, Paris, France.,AB Science, Paris, France
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32
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Strzebonska K, Blukacz M, Wasylewski MT, Polak M, Gyawali B, Waligora M. Risk and benefit for umbrella trials in oncology: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Med 2022; 20:219. [PMID: 35799149 PMCID: PMC9264503 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02420-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Umbrella clinical trials in precision oncology are designed to tailor therapies to the specific genetic changes within a tumor. Little is known about the risk/benefit ratio for umbrella clinical trials. The aim of our systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles in cancer umbrella trials testing targeted drugs or a combination of targeted therapy with chemotherapy. METHODS Our study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020171494). We searched Embase and PubMed for cancer umbrella trials testing targeted agents or a combination of targeted therapies with chemotherapy. We included solid tumor studies published between 1 January 2006 and 7 October 2019. We measured the risk using drug-related grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs), and the benefit by objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). When possible, data were meta-analyzed. RESULTS Of the 6207 records identified, we included 31 sub-trials or arms of nine umbrella trials (N = 1637). The pooled overall ORR was 17.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.5-25.9). The ORR for targeted therapies in the experimental arms was significantly lower than the ORR for a combination of targeted therapy drugs with chemotherapy: 13.3% vs 39.0%; p = 0.005. The median PFS was 2.4 months (95% CI 1.9-2.9), and the median OS was 7.1 months (95% CI 6.1-8.4). The overall drug-related death rate (drug-related grade 5 AEs rate) was 0.8% (95% CI 0.3-1.4), and the average drug-related grade 3/4 AE rate per person was 0.45 (95% CI 0.40-0.50). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that, on average, one in five cancer patients in umbrella trials published between 1 January 2006 and 7 October 2019 responded to a given therapy, while one in 125 died due to drug toxicity. Our findings do not support the expectation of increased patient benefit in cancer umbrella trials. Further studies should investigate whether umbrella trial design and the precision oncology approach improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Strzebonska
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Mateusz Blukacz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Mateusz T. Wasylewski
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maciej Polak
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Studies, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Bishal Gyawali
- Department of Oncology and the Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario Canada
| | - Marcin Waligora
- Research Ethics in Medicine Study Group (REMEDY), Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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33
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Meyer EL, Mesenbrink P, Dunger‐Baldauf C, Glimm E, Li Y, König F. Decision rules for identifying combination therapies in open-entry, randomized controlled platform trials. Pharm Stat 2022; 21:671-690. [PMID: 35102685 PMCID: PMC9304586 DOI: 10.1002/pst.2194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Platform trials have become increasingly popular for drug development programs, attracting interest from statisticians, clinicians and regulatory agencies. Many statistical questions related to designing platform trials-such as the impact of decision rules, sharing of information across cohorts, and allocation ratios on operating characteristics and error rates-remain unanswered. In many platform trials, the definition of error rates is not straightforward as classical error rate concepts are not applicable. For an open-entry, exploratory platform trial design comparing combination therapies to the respective monotherapies and standard-of-care, we define a set of error rates and operating characteristics and then use these to compare a set of design parameters under a range of simulation assumptions. When setting up the simulations, we aimed for realistic trial trajectories, such that for example, a priori we do not know the exact number of treatments that will be included over time in a specific simulation run as this follows a stochastic mechanism. Our results indicate that the method of data sharing, exact specification of decision rules and a priori assumptions regarding the treatment efficacy all strongly contribute to the operating characteristics of the platform trial. Furthermore, different operating characteristics might be of importance to different stakeholders. Together with the potential flexibility and complexity of a platform trial, which also impact the achieved operating characteristics via, for example, the degree of efficiency of data sharing this implies that utmost care needs to be given to evaluation of different assumptions and design parameters at the design stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Laurin Meyer
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent SystemsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Peter Mesenbrink
- Analytics DepartmentNovartis Pharmaceuticals CorporationEast HanoverNew JerseyUSA
| | | | - Ekkehard Glimm
- Analytics DepartmentNovartis Pharma AGBaselSwitzerland
- Institute of Biometry and Medical InformaticsUniversity of MagdeburgMagdeburgGermany
| | - Yuhan Li
- Analytics DepartmentNovartis Pharmaceuticals CorporationEast HanoverNew JerseyUSA
| | - Franz König
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent SystemsMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
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34
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He L, Ren Y, Chen H, Guinn D, Parashar D, Chen C, Yuan SS, Korostyshevskiy V, Beckman RA. Efficiency of a randomized confirmatory basket trial design constrained to control the family wise error rate by indication. Stat Methods Med Res 2022; 31:1207-1223. [DOI: 10.1177/09622802221091901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Basket trials pool histologic indications sharing molecular pathophysiology, improving development efficiency. Currently, basket trials have been confirmatory only for exceptional therapies. Our previous randomized basket design may be generally suitable in the resource-intensive confirmatory phase, maintains high power even with modest effect sizes, and provides nearly k-fold increased efficiency for k indications, but controls false positives for the pooled result only. Since family wise error rate by indications may sometimes be required, we now simulate a variant of this basket design controlling family wise error rate at 0.025 k, the total family wise error rate of k separate randomized trials. We simulated this modified design under numerous scenarios varying design parameters. Only designs controlling family wise error rate and minimizing estimation bias were allowable. Optimal performance results when [Formula: see text]. We report efficiency (expected # true positives/expected sample size) relative to k parallel studies, at 90% power (“uncorrected”) or at the power achieved in the basket trial (“corrected,” because conventional designs could also increase efficiency by sacrificing power). Efficiency and power (percentage active indications identified) improve with a higher percentage of initial indications active. Up to 92% uncorrected and 38% corrected efficiency improvement is possible. Even under family wise error rate control, randomized confirmatory basket trials substantially improve development efficiency. Initial indication selection is critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linchen He
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuru Ren
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Han Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daphne Guinn
- Program for Regulatory Science and Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Deepak Parashar
- Statistics and Epidemiology Unit & Cancer Research Centre, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, The British Library, London, UK
| | - Cong Chen
- Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
| | - Shuai Sammy Yuan
- Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
- Kite Pharma, a Gilead Company, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Valeriy Korostyshevskiy
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robert A. Beckman
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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Noor NM, Love SB, Isaacs T, Kaplan R, Parmar MKB, Sydes MR. Uptake of the multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) adaptive platform approach: a trial-registry review of late-phase randomised clinical trials. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055615. [PMID: 35273052 PMCID: PMC8915371 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For medical conditions with numerous interventions worthy of investigation, there are many advantages of a multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) platform trial approach. However, there is currently limited knowledge on uptake of the MAMS design, especially in the late-phase setting. We sought to examine uptake and characteristics of late-phase MAMS platform trials, to enable better planning for teams considering future use of this approach. DESIGN We examined uptake of registered, late-phase MAMS platforms in the EU clinical trials register, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry, Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform and databases: PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Global Health Library and EMBASE. Searching was performed and review data frozen on 1 April 2021. MAMS platforms were defined as requiring two or more comparison arms, with two or more trial stages, with an interim analysis allowing for stopping of recruitment to arms and typically the ability to add new intervention arms. RESULTS 62 late-phase clinical trials using an MAMS approach were included. Overall, the number of late-phase trials using the MAMS design has been increasing since 2001 and been accelerated by COVID-19. The majority of current MAMS platforms were either targeting infectious diseases (52%) or cancers (29%) and all identified trials were for treatment interventions. 89% (55/62) of MAMS platforms were evaluating medications, with 45% (28/62) of the MAMS platforms having at least one or more repurposed medication as a comparison arm. CONCLUSIONS Historically, late-phase trials have adhered to long-established standard (two-arm) designs. However, the number of late-phase MAMS platform trials is increasing, across a range of different disease areas. This study highlights the potential scope of MAMS platform trials and may assist research teams considering use of this approach in the late-phase randomised clinical trial setting. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42019153910.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Talia Isaacs
- Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
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36
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White ES, Thomas M, Stowasser S, Tetzlaff K. Challenges for Clinical Drug Development in Pulmonary Fibrosis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:823085. [PMID: 35173620 PMCID: PMC8841605 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.823085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis is a pathologic process associated with scarring of the lung interstitium. Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass a large and heterogenous group of disorders, a number of which are characterized by progressive pulmonary fibrosis that leads to respiratory failure and death. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has been described as an archetype of progressive fibrosing ILD, and the development of pirfenidone and nintedanib has been a major breakthrough in the treatment of patients with this deadly disease. Both drugs principally target scar-forming fibroblasts and have been shown to significantly slow down the accelerated decline of lung function by approximately 50%. In addition, nintedanib has been approved for patients with other progressive fibrosing ILDs and systemic sclerosis-associated ILD. However, there is still no cure for pulmonary fibrosis and no meaningful improvement of symptoms or quality of life has been shown. Advancement in research, such as the advent of single cell sequencing technology, has identified additional pathologic cell populations beyond the fibroblast which could be targeted for therapeutic purposes. The preclinical and clinical development of novel drug candidates is hampered by profound challenges such as a lack of sensitive clinical outcomes or suitable biomarkers that would provide an early indication of patient benefit. With the availability of these anti-fibrotic treatments, it has become even more difficult to demonstrate added efficacy, in particular in short-term clinical studies. Patient heterogeneity and the paucity of biomarkers of disease activity further complicate clinical development. It is conceivable that future treatment of pulmonary fibrosis will need to embrace more precision in treating the right patient at the right time, explore novel measures of efficacy, and likely combine treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S. White
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, CT, United States
| | - Matthew Thomas
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Susanne Stowasser
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Kay Tetzlaff
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
- Department of Sports Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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37
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Collignon O, Posch M, Schiel A. Assessment of tumour-agnostic therapies in basket trials. Lancet Oncol 2022; 23:e8. [DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(21)00717-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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38
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Molloy SF, White IR, Nunn AJ, Hayes R, Wang D, Harrison TS. Multiplicity adjustments in parallel-group multi-arm trials sharing a control group: Clear guidance is needed. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 113:106656. [PMID: 34906747 PMCID: PMC8844584 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Multi-arm, parallel-group clinical trials are an efficient way of testing several new treatments, treatment regimens or doses. However, guidance on the requirement for statistical adjustment to control for multiple comparisons (type I error) using a shared control group is unclear. We argue, based on current evidence, that adjustment is not always necessary in such situations. We propose that adjustment should not be a requirement in multi-arm, parallel-group trials testing distinct treatments and sharing a control group, and we call for clearer guidance from stakeholders, such as regulators and scientific journals, on the appropriate settings for adjustment of multiplicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Síle F Molloy
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK.
| | - Ian R White
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew J Nunn
- MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Richard Hayes
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Duolao Wang
- Global Health Trials Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Thomas S Harrison
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London, UK
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Lengliné E, Peron J, Vanier A, Gueyffier F, Kouzan S, Dufour P, Guillot B, Blondon H, Clanet M, Cochat P, Degos F, Chevret S, Grande M, Putzolu J. Basket clinical trial design for targeted therapies for cancer: a French National Authority for Health statement for health technology assessment. Lancet Oncol 2021; 22:e430-e434. [PMID: 34592192 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(21)00337-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During the past decade, health technology assessment bodies have faced new challenges in establishing the benefits of new drugs for individuals and health-care systems. A topic of increasing importance to the field of oncology is the so-called agnostic regulatory approval of targeted therapies for cancer (independent of tumour location and histology) granted on the basis of basket trials. Basket trials in oncology offer the advantage of simultaneously evaluating treatments for multiple tumours, even rare cancers, in a single clinical trial. To address the novel challenges introduced by these trials, an interdisciplinary panel was convened on behalf of the Transparency Committee of the French National Authority for Health to clarify an approach designed to guarantee a transparent, reproducible, and fair assessment of histology-agnostic treatments for reimbursement by the French National Health Insurance Fund. The requirements of this approach include the need for randomisation, clinically relevant endpoints, appropriate correction for multiple significance testing, characterisation of subgroup heterogeneity, and validation of underlying biomarker assays. A prospectively designated external control is encouraged when the implementation of a direct comparison is deemed infeasible. We also underline the importance of recording outcomes from basket trials in a registry for use as future external controls.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julien Peron
- Medical Oncology Department, Cancer Institute of the Hospices Civils of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Antoine Vanier
- Unit of Methodology Biostatistics and Data Management, INSERM CIC1415, University Hospital of Tours, Tours, France
| | - François Gueyffier
- UMR 5558 CNRS Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Public Health Department, Lyon University Hospitals, Lyon, France
| | - Serge Kouzan
- Pulmonary Department, Centre Regional Hospital, Chambery, France
| | - Patrick Dufour
- Medical and Surgical Division of Digestive Pathology, Hautepierre Hospital, Louis Pasteur University, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bernard Guillot
- Dermatology Department, Saint Eloi University Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Hugues Blondon
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Versailles Hospital, Le Chesnay, France
| | - Michel Clanet
- Pharmaceuticals Assessment Department, French National Authority for Health, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Pierre Cochat
- Pharmaceuticals Assessment Department, French National Authority for Health, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Françoise Degos
- Pharmaceuticals Assessment Department, French National Authority for Health, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Sylvie Chevret
- Biostatistics Department, Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Grande
- Pharmaceuticals Assessment Department, French National Authority for Health, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Jade Putzolu
- Pharmaceuticals Assessment Department, French National Authority for Health, Saint-Denis, France.
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40
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Ren Y, Li X, Chen C. Statistical considerations of phase 3 umbrella trials allowing adding one treatment arm mid-trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 109:106538. [PMID: 34384890 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Master protocols, in particular umbrella trials and platform trials, when evaluating multiple experimental treatments with a common control, could save patient resource, increase trial efficiency, and reduce drug development cost. Compared to the phase 3 platform trials that allow unlimited number of experimental arms to be added, it is more practical for individual companies to evaluate two experimental arms with a common control in an umbrella trial and allow the second experimental arm to be added at a later time. There have been limited research done in this type of trials in terms of statistical properties and guidance. In this article, we present statistical considerations of a phase 3 three-arm umbrella design including Type I error control and power, as well as the optimal allocation ratio. We intend to not only complement the existing literature, but more importantly to provide practical guidance to pave the way for its implementation by individual companies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Ren
- Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
| | - Xiaoyun Li
- Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
| | - Cong Chen
- Biostatistics and Research Decision Sciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA
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41
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Practical Considerations and Recommendations for Master Protocol Framework: Basket, Umbrella and Platform Trials. Ther Innov Regul Sci 2021; 55:1145-1154. [PMID: 34160785 PMCID: PMC8220876 DOI: 10.1007/s43441-021-00315-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Master protocol, categorized as basket trial, umbrella trial or platform trial, is an innovative clinical trial framework that aims to expedite clinical drug development, enhance trial efficiency, and eventually bring medicines to patients faster. Despite a clear uptake on the advantages in the concepts and designs, master protocols are still yet to be widely used. Part of that may be due to the fact that the master protocol framework comes with the need for new statistical designs and considerations for analyses and operational challenges. In this article, we provide an overview of the master protocol framework, unify the definitions with some examples, review the statistical methods for the designs and analyses, and focus our discussions on some practical considerations and recommendations of master protocols to help practitioners better design and implement such studies.
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42
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van Eijk RPA, Kliest T, van den Berg LH. Current trends in the clinical trial landscape for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Curr Opin Neurol 2021; 33:655-661. [PMID: 32796282 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000000861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the current developments in the design and conduct of clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), illustrated by a critical appraisal of ClinicalTrials.gov. RECENT FINDINGS In total, 63 clinical trials were included in the analysis, of which 13 phase 1, 35 phase 2 and 15 phase 3. Virtually all phase 3 clinical trials can be classified as randomized, placebo controlled, whereas this is only true for 57% of the phase 2 clinical trials. There are promising developments in the routes of drug administration, eligibility criteria, efficacy endpoints and overall trial design. Some of these innovative approaches may, however, not fulfil clinical trial guidelines or regulatory requirements. This could delay the development of effective therapy or hamper our ability to determine whether a treatment is truly (in)effective. The initiation of trial consortia comprising patient organizations, academia, industry and funding bodies may significantly strengthen the future clinical trial landscape for ALS. SUMMARY The ALS clinical trial landscape is currently highly active with several promising innovative developments and therapeutic options. By further refinement of evidence-based guidelines, and alignment of our current endeavours, we may soon be able to positively impact the lives of people living with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben P A van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre.,Biostatistics & Research Support, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa Kliest
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Centre
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Pohl M, Krisam J, Kieser M. Categories, components, and techniques in a modular construction of basket trials for application and further research. Biom J 2021; 63:1159-1184. [PMID: 33942894 DOI: 10.1002/bimj.202000314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Basket trials have become a virulent topic in medical and statistical research during the last decade. The core idea of them is to treat patients, who express the same genetic predisposition-either personally or their disease-with the same treatment irrespective of the location of the disease. The location of the disease defines each basket and the pathway of the treatment uses the common genetic predisposition among the baskets. This opens the opportunity to share information among baskets, which can consequently increase the information of the basket-wise response with respect to the investigated treatment. This further allows dynamic decisions regarding futility and efficacy of individual baskets during the ongoing trial. Several statistical designs have been proposed on how a basket trial can be conducted and this has left an unclear situation with many options. The different designs propose different mathematical and statistical techniques, different decision rules, and also different trial purposes. This paper presents a broad overview of existing designs, categorizes them, and elaborates their similarities and differences. A uniform and consistent notation facilitates the first contact, introduction, and understanding of the statistical methodologies and techniques used in basket trials. Finally, this paper presents a modular approach for the construction of basket trials in applied medical science and forms a base for further research of basket trial designs and their techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Pohl
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Krisam
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Meinhard Kieser
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Sridhara R, Marchenko O, Jiang Q, Pazdur R, Posch M, Redman M, Tymofyeyev Y, Li X(N, Theoret M, Shen YL, Gwise T, Hess L, Coory M, Raven A, Kotani N, Roes K, Josephson F, Berry S, Simon R, Binkowitz B. Type I Error Considerations in Master Protocols With Common Control in Oncology Trials: Report of an American Statistical Association Biopharmaceutical Section Open Forum Discussion. Stat Biopharm Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/19466315.2021.1906743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Martin Posch
- Medical Statistics at the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kit Roes
- Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA), Uppsala, Sweden
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45
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Burger HU, Gerlinger C, Harbron C, Koch A, Posch M, Rochon J, Schiel A. The use of external controls: To what extent can it currently be recommended? Pharm Stat 2021; 20:1002-1016. [PMID: 33908160 DOI: 10.1002/pst.2120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
With more and better clinical data being captured outside of clinical studies and greater data sharing of clinical studies, external controls may become a more attractive alternative to randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Both industry and regulators recognize that in situations where a randomized study cannot be performed, external controls can provide the needed contextualization to allow a better interpretation of studies without a randomized control. It is also agreed that external controls will not fully replace RCTs as the gold standard for formal proof of efficacy in drug development and the yardstick of clinical research. However, it remains unclear in which situations conclusions about efficacy and a positive benefit/risk can reliably be based on the use of an external control. This paper will provide an overview on types of external control, their applications and the different sources of bias their use may incur, and discuss potential mitigation steps. It will also give recommendations on how the use of external controls can be justified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Ulrich Burger
- Pharmaceutical Division, Data Sciences, Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Gerlinger
- Statistics and Data Insights, Bayer AG and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University Medical School of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | | | - Armin Koch
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Martin Posch
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Justine Rochon
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
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46
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Sverdlov O, Ryeznik Y, Wong WK. Opportunity for efficiency in clinical development: An overview of adaptive clinical trial designs and innovative machine learning tools, with examples from the cardiovascular field. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 105:106397. [PMID: 33845209 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Modern data analysis tools and statistical modeling techniques are increasingly used in clinical research to improve diagnosis, estimate disease progression and predict treatment outcomes. What seems less emphasized is the importance of the study design, which can have a serious impact on the study cost, time and statistical efficiency. This paper provides an overview of different types of adaptive designs in clinical trials and their applications to cardiovascular trials. We highlight recent proliferation of work on adaptive designs over the past two decades, including some recent regulatory guidelines on complex trial designs and master protocols. We also describe the increasing role of machine learning and use of metaheuristics to construct increasingly complex adaptive designs or to identify interesting features for improved predictions and classifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr Sverdlov
- Early Development Biostatistics, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, USA.
| | - Yevgen Ryeznik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Weng Kee Wong
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles, USA
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47
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Collignon O, Burman CF, Posch M, Schiel A. Collaborative Platform Trials to Fight COVID-19: Methodological and Regulatory Considerations for a Better Societal Outcome. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2021; 110:311-320. [PMID: 33506495 PMCID: PMC8014457 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
For the development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) drugs during the ongoing pandemic, speed is of essence whereas quality of evidence is of paramount importance. Although thousands of COVID‐19 trials were rapidly started, many are unlikely to provide robust statistical evidence and meet regulatory standards (e.g., because of lack of randomization or insufficient power). This has led to an inefficient use of time and resources. With more coordination, the sheer number of patients in these trials might have generated convincing data for several investigational treatments. Collaborative platform trials, comparing several drugs to a shared control arm, are an attractive solution. Those trials can utilize a variety of adaptive design features in order to accelerate the finding of life‐saving treatments. In this paper, we discuss several possible designs, illustrate them via simulations, and also discuss challenges, such as the heterogeneity of the target population, time‐varying standard of care, and the potentially high number of false hypothesis rejections in phase II and phase III trials. We provide corresponding regulatory perspectives on approval and reimbursement, and note that the optimal design of a platform trial will differ with our societal objective and by stakeholder. Hasty approvals may delay the development of better alternatives, whereas searching relentlessly for the single most efficacious treatment may indirectly diminish the number of lives saved as time is lost. We point out the need for incentivizing developers to participate in collaborative evidence‐generation initiatives when a positive return on investment is not met.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carl-Fredrik Burman
- Statistical Innovation, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence, AstraZeneca R&D, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin Posch
- Section for Medical Statistics, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Meyer EL, Mesenbrink P, Mielke T, Parke T, Evans D, König F. Systematic review of available software for multi-arm multi-stage and platform clinical trial design. Trials 2021; 22:183. [PMID: 33663579 PMCID: PMC7931508 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05130-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, the popularity of multi-arm multi-stage, seamless adaptive, and platform trials has increased. However, many design-related questions and questions regarding which operating characteristics should be evaluated to determine the potential performance of a specific trial design remain and are often further complicated by the complexity of such trial designs. METHODS A systematic search was conducted to review existing software for the design of platform trials, whereby multi-arm multi-stage trials were also included. The results of this search are reported both on the literature level and the software level, highlighting the software judged to be particularly useful. RESULTS In recent years, many highly specialized software packages targeting single design elements on platform studies have been released. Only a few of the developed software packages provide extensive design flexibility, at the cost of limited access due to being commercial or not being usable as out-of-the-box solutions. CONCLUSIONS We believe that both an open-source modular software similar to OCTOPUS and a collaborative effort will be necessary to create software that takes advantage of and investigates the impact of all the flexibility that platform trials potentially provide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias Laurin Meyer
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Mesenbrink
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, One Health Plaza, East Hanover, NJ, USA
| | | | | | | | - Franz König
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Moore-Hepburn C, Rieder M. Paediatric pharmacotherapy and drug regulation: Moving past the therapeutic orphan. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2021; 88:4250-4257. [PMID: 33576523 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.14769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of specific drug therapy for children was a paradigm-changing event that transformed paediatric medical practice. However, a series of tragedies involving drug treatment for children resulted in a gap developing between drug regulation and practice, with the majority of drugs used in child healthcare being used off-label, rendering children therapeutic orphans. Over the past two decades changes in drug regulation led by the US Food and Drug Administration and followed by the European Union's European Medicines Agency have led to substantial changes in how new drugs with potential use in children are studied and labelled. While these changes have substantially improved labelling for new drugs, there has been much less progress with older drugs. Although the unique challenges of conducting clinical research in children have been addressed by novel clinical trial designs, many of these innovations have not been translated into approaches accepted for the drug approval process. The regulations applying to the need for paediatric studies currently are only applicable in the United States and the European Union, and there is less impetus for paediatric labelling in other jurisdictions. This impacts on a number of issues beyond labelling, including the availability of child-friendly formulations. Finally, the impact of Brexit on paediatric drug studies in the UK remains unclear and is subject to ongoing negotiations between the UK government and the European Union.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Rieder
- Division of Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Ontario, Canada
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Collignon O, Schritz A, Spezia R, Senn SJ. Implementing Historical Controls in Oncology Trials. Oncologist 2021; 26:e859-e862. [PMID: 33523511 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug development in oncology has broadened from mainly considering randomized clinical trials to also including single-arm trials tailored for very specific subtypes of cancer. They often use historical controls, and this article discusses benefits and risks of this paradigm and provide various regulatory and statistical considerations. While leveraging the information brought by historical controls could potentially shorten development time and reduce the number of patients enrolled, a careful selection of the past studies, a prespecified statistical analysis accounting for the heterogeneity between studies, and early engagement with regulators will be key to success. Although both the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have already approved medicines based on nonrandomized experiments, the evidentiary package can be perceived as less comprehensive than randomized experiments. Use of historical controls, therefore, is better suited for cases of high unmet clinical need, where the disease course is well characterized and the primary endpoint is objective. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Incorporating historical data in single-arm oncology trials has the potential to accelerate drug development and to reduce the number of patients enrolled, compared with standard randomized controlled clinical trials. Given the lack of blinding and randomization, such an approach is better suited for cases of high unmet clinical need and/or difficult experimental situations, in which the trajectory of the disease is well characterized and the endpoint can be measured objectively. Careful pre-specification and selection of the historical data, matching of the patient characteristics with the concurrent trial data, and innovative statistical methodologies accounting for between-study variation will be needed. Early engagement with regulators (e.g., via Scientific Advice) is highly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Collignon
- Luxembourg Institute of Health, Competence Center in Methodology and Statistics, Strassen, Luxembourg.,GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Schritz
- Luxembourg Institute of Health, Competence Center in Methodology and Statistics, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | | | - Stephen J Senn
- Luxembourg Institute of Health, Competence Center in Methodology and Statistics, Strassen, Luxembourg.,Medical Statistics Group, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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