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Baldwin D, Carmichael J, Cook G, Navani N, Peach J, Slater R, Wheatstone P, Wilkins J, Allen-Delingpole N, Kerr CEP, Siddiqui K. UK Stakeholder Perspectives on Surrogate Endpoints in Cancer, and the Potential for UK Real-World Datasets to Validate Their Use in Decision-Making. Cancer Manag Res 2024; 16:791-810. [PMID: 39044745 PMCID: PMC11264281 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s441359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Duration of overall survival in patients with cancer has lengthened due to earlier detection and improved treatments. However, these improvements have created challenges in assessing the impact of newer treatments, particularly those used early in the treatment pathway. As overall survival remains most decision-makers' preferred primary endpoint, therapeutic innovations may take a long time to be introduced into clinical practice. Moreover, it is difficult to extrapolate findings to heterogeneous populations and address the concerns of patients wishing to evaluate everyday quality and extension of life. There is growing interest in the use of surrogate or interim endpoints to demonstrate robust treatment effects sooner than is possible with measurement of overall survival. It is hoped that they could speed up patients' access to new drugs, combinations, and sequences, and inform treatment decision-making. However, while surrogate endpoints have been used by regulators for drug approvals, this has occurred on a case-by-case basis. Evidence standards are yet to be clearly defined for acceptability in health technology appraisals or to shape clinical practice. This article considers the relevance of the use of surrogate endpoints in cancer in the UK context, and explores whether collection and analysis of real-world UK data and evidence might contribute to validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Baldwin
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jonathan Carmichael
- Department of Oncology, The National Institute for Health Research Leeds In Vitro Diagnostics Co-Operative (NIHR Leeds MIC), Leeds, UK
| | - Gordon Cook
- Cancer Research UK Trials Unit, LICTR, University of Leeds & NIHR (Leeds) IVD MIC, Leeds, UK
| | - Neal Navani
- Lungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, University College London Hospital, London, UK
| | - James Peach
- Human Centric Drug Discovery, Wood Centre for Innovation, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Pete Wheatstone
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Group, DATA-CAN, London, UK
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Manyara AM, Davies P, Stewart D, Weir CJ, Young AE, Blazeby J, Butcher NJ, Bujkiewicz S, Chan AW, Dawoud D, Offringa M, Ouwens M, Hróbjartssson A, Amstutz A, Bertolaccini L, Bruno VD, Devane D, Faria CDCM, Gilbert PB, Harris R, Lassere M, Marinelli L, Markham S, Powers JH, Rezaei Y, Richert L, Schwendicke F, Tereshchenko LG, Thoma A, Turan A, Worrall A, Christensen R, Collins GS, Ross JS, Taylor RS, Ciani O. Reporting of surrogate endpoints in randomised controlled trial reports (CONSORT-Surrogate): extension checklist with explanation and elaboration. BMJ 2024; 386:e078524. [PMID: 38981645 PMCID: PMC11231881 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-078524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Muchai Manyara
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Global Health and Ageing Research Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Philippa Davies
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Christopher J Weir
- Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Amber E Young
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jane Blazeby
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, UK
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Nancy J Butcher
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sylwia Bujkiewicz
- Biostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - An-Wen Chan
- Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dalia Dawoud
- Science, Evidence, and Analytics Directorate, Science Policy and Research Programme, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, London, UK
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Martin Offringa
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Asbjørn Hróbjartssson
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense and Cochrane Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Open Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Alain Amstutz
- CLEAR Methods Centre, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Luca Bertolaccini
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Vito Domenico Bruno
- IRCCS Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio Hospital, Department of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Milan, Italy
| | - Declan Devane
- University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Christina D C M Faria
- Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marissa Lassere
- St George Hospital and School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lucio Marinelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sarah Markham
- Patient author, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - John H Powers
- George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yousef Rezaei
- Heart Valve Disease Research Centre, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
- Behyan Clinic, Pardis New Town, Tehran, Iran
| | - Laura Richert
- University of Bordeaux, Centre d'Investigation Clinique-Epidémiologie Clinique 1401, Research in Clinical Epidemiology and in Public Health and European Clinical Trials Platform & Development/French Clinical Research Infrastructure Network, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale/Institut Bergonié/Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Larisa G Tereshchenko
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Alparslan Turan
- Department of Outcomes Research, Anaesthesiology Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA
| | | | - Robin Christensen
- Section for Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Research, the Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen and Research Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Gary S Collins
- UK EQUATOR Centre, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joseph S Ross
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Section of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rod S Taylor
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, School of Health and Well Being, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Oriana Ciani
- Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management, Bocconi University, Milan 20136, Italy
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Manyara AM, Davies P, Stewart D, Weir CJ, Young AE, Blazeby J, Butcher NJ, Bujkiewicz S, Chan AW, Dawoud D, Offringa M, Ouwens M, Hróbjartssson A, Amstutz A, Bertolaccini L, Bruno VD, Devane D, Faria CDCM, Gilbert PB, Harris R, Lassere M, Marinelli L, Markham S, Powers JH, Rezaei Y, Richert L, Schwendicke F, Tereshchenko LG, Thoma A, Turan A, Worrall A, Christensen R, Collins GS, Ross JS, Taylor RS, Ciani O. Reporting of surrogate endpoints in randomised controlled trial protocols (SPIRIT-Surrogate): extension checklist with explanation and elaboration. BMJ 2024; 386:e078525. [PMID: 38981624 PMCID: PMC11231880 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-078525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Muchai Manyara
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Global Health and Ageing Research Unit, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Philippa Davies
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Christopher J Weir
- Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Amber E Young
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jane Blazeby
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, UK
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Nancy J Butcher
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sylwia Bujkiewicz
- Biostatistics Research Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - An-Wen Chan
- Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dalia Dawoud
- Science, Evidence, and Analytics Directorate, Science Policy and Research Programme, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, London, UK
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Martin Offringa
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Asbjørn Hróbjartssson
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense and Cochrane Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Open Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Alain Amstutz
- CLEAR Methods Centre, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Luca Bertolaccini
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Vito Domenico Bruno
- IRCCS Galeazzi-Sant'Ambrogio Hospital, Department of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Milan, Italy
| | - Declan Devane
- University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Christina D C M Faria
- Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marissa Lassere
- St George Hospital and School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lucio Marinelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Sarah Markham
- Patient author, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - John H Powers
- George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yousef Rezaei
- Heart Valve Disease Research Centre, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
- Behyan Clinic, Pardis New Town, Tehran, Iran
| | - Laura Richert
- University of Bordeaux, Centre d'Investigation Clinique-Epidémiologie Clinique 1401, Research in Clinical Epidemiology and in Public Health and European Clinical Trials Platform & Development/French Clinical Research Infrastructure Network, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale/Institut Bergonié/Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Larisa G Tereshchenko
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | | | - Alparslan Turan
- Department of Outcomes Research, Anaesthesiology Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA
| | | | - Robin Christensen
- Section for Biostatistics and Evidence-Based Research, the Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen and Research Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Gary S Collins
- UK EQUATOR Centre, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joseph S Ross
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Section of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rod S Taylor
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, School of Health and Well Being, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Oriana Ciani
- Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management, Bocconi University, Milan 20136, Italy
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Espinosa-Pereiro J, Alagna R, Saluzzo F, González-Moreno J, Heinrich N, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Cirillo DM. A Systematic Review of Potential Biomarkers for Bacterial Burden and Treatment Efficacy Assessment in Tuberculosis Platform-Based Clinical Trials. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:1584-1595. [PMID: 37956107 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad482] [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: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive platform trials can be more efficient than classic trials for developing new treatments. Moving from culture-based to simpler- or faster-to-measure biomarkers as efficacy surrogates may enhance this advantage. We performed a systematic review of treatment efficacy biomarkers in adults with tuberculosis. Platform trials can span different development phases. We grouped biomarkers as: α, bacterial load estimates used in phase 2a trials; β, early and end-of treatment end points, phase 2b-c trials; γ, posttreatment or trial-level estimates, phase 2c-3 trials. We considered as analysis unit (biomarker entry) each combination of biomarker, predicted outcome, and their respective measurement times or intervals. Performance metrics included: sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC), and correlation measures, and classified as poor, promising, or good. Eighty-six studies included 22 864 participants. From 1356 biomarker entries, 318 were reported with the performance metrics of interest, with 103 promising and 41 good predictors. Group results were: α, mycobacterial RNA and lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in sputum, and host metabolites in urine; β, mycobacterial RNA and host transcriptomic or cytokine signatures for early treatment response; and γ, host transcriptomics for recurrence. A combination of biomarkers from different categories could help in designing more efficient platform trials. Efforts to develop efficacy surrogates should be better coordinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Espinosa-Pereiro
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebrón University Hospital, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- International Health Program, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infeccioass, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Riccardo Alagna
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Qiagen, Srl, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Norbert Heinrich
- Center for International Health, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá
- Infectious Diseases Department, Vall d'Hebrón University Hospital, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- International Health Program, Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infeccioass, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Grupo de Estudio de Micobacterias, Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica, Madrid, Spain
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Li J, Wang H, Hua Y, Liu Y, Chen Y, Jiang R, Shao R, Xie J. Progress and Challenges of the New Conditional Approval Process in China: A Pooled Analysis From 2018 to 2021. Clin Ther 2023; 45:1111-1118. [PMID: 37806812 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.09.006] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To speed the review and approval of drugs and address pressing medical needs, China began to advocate for the implementation of the conditional approval process in 2017. We aimed to assess the implementation of the conditional approval process in China and further analyze its potential problems and future challenges. METHODS This study examined the new drug approval with conditions in China between 2018 and 2021, based on an analysis of drug technical review documents from the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE). Using publicly available information, we further analyzed the characteristics and results of pivotal clinical trials of conditionally approved drugs, postmarketing study requirements and progress. FINDINGS Between 2018 and 2021, China conditionally approved 50 drugs, with 80% (40/50) being antineoplastic agents. Premarketing pivotal trials predominantly used single-arm clinical trials (83.7%, 41/49), while postmarketing trials mainly employed randomized controlled clinical trials (81.0%, 34/42). In oncology drugs, conditionally approved drugs with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as primary endpoints achieved significant clinical value in terms of efficacy. However, there were also pivotal clinical trials with response rate (RR) as the primary endpoint that demonstrated lower clinical benefits (8.9% of drugs with RR below 20%). Safety analysis revealed substantial variations in the proportions of grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) across pivotal trials (Grade ≥ 3 AEs: 9.0%-99.0%; SAEs: 8.0%-83.0%). For nononcology drugs, pivotal trials also demonstrated an acceptable risk-benefit ratio but exhibited methodological issues. Meanwhile, Most postmarketing studies lacked completion date restrictions (43.2%, 17/47), and no requirements were specified for the transition to full approval. Furthermore, surrogate endpoints were primarily utilized both pre- and postmarketing, but the rational selection of surrogate endpoints remains to be investigated. IMPLICATIONS The conditional approval process expedites patient access to drugs for serious diseases. However, challenges pertaining to evidence assessment during approval and design flaws in postmarketing studies exist in China's conditional approval system, necessitating future improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlian Li
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Haoyang Wang
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yanzhao Hua
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Rong Jiang
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Drug Regulatory Innovation and Evaluation, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Rong Shao
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Drug Regulatory Innovation and Evaluation, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jinping Xie
- Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Products, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China; NMPA Key Laboratory for Drug Regulatory Innovation and Evaluation, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
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English BA, Ereshefsky L. Experimental Medicine Approaches in Early-Phase CNS Drug Development. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 30:417-455. [PMID: 36928860 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21054-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, Phase 1 clinical trials were largely conducted in healthy normal volunteers and focused on collection of safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic data. However, in the CNS therapeutic area, with more drugs failing in later phase development, Phase 1 trials have undergone an evolution that includes incorporation of novel approaches involving novel study designs, inclusion of biomarkers, and early inclusion of patients to improve the pharmacologic understanding of novel CNS-active compounds early in clinical development with the hope of improving success in later phase pivotal trials. In this chapter, the authors will discuss the changing landscape of Phase 1 clinical trials in CNS, including novel trial methodology, inclusion of pharmacodynamic biomarkers, and experimental medicine approaches to inform early decision-making in clinical development.
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Conforti F, Pala L, Bagnardi V, De Pas T, Colleoni M, Buyse M, Hortobagyi G, Gianni L, Winer E, Loibl S, Cortes J, Piccart M, Wolff AC, Viale G, Gelber RD. Surrogacy of Pathologic Complete Response in Trials of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Early Breast Cancer: Critical Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, and Misinterpretations. JAMA Oncol 2022; 8:1668-1675. [PMID: 36201176 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.3755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance The pathologic complete response (pCR) is supported by regulatory agencies as a surrogate end point for long-term patients' clinical outcomes in the accelerated approval process of new drugs tested in neoadjuvant randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for early breast cancer (BC). However, a meaningful association between pCR and patients' survival has been proven only at the patient level (ie, significantly better survival of patients who achieved pCR compared with those who did not), but not at trial level (ie, poor association between degree of improvement in pCR rate and survival reported across trials). Observations We critically discuss the potential reasons of such discrepancy between pCR surrogacy value at the patient and trial level, as well as the relevant implications for both clinical research and drug regulatory policy. We also describe alternative surrogate end points, including combined end points that jointly analyzed pathological response and event-free survival data, or the assessment of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Such proposed surrogate end points could overcome limits of pCR and provide a reasonable trade-off between the 2 conflicting needs to have access to effective therapies rapidly, and to reliably assess patients' clinical benefit. Conclusions and Relevance Using surrogate end points to grant drug approvals is justified only when they can provide accurate prediction of a drug's effect on the long-term patient outcomes. Evidence currently available does not support pCR used alone as a reliable surrogate end point in regulatory neoadjuvant RCTs for BC. The surrogacy value at trial level of potentially more robust surrogate end points needs to be urgently tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Conforti
- European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Oncology, Cliniche, Humanitas Gavazzeni, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Laura Pala
- European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Bagnardi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cliniche, Humanitas Gavazzeni, Bergamo, Italy.,Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso De Pas
- European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Frontier Science & Technology Research Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marco Colleoni
- Division of Medical Senology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Marc Buyse
- International Drug Development Institute (IDDI), Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Gabriel Hortobagyi
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Eric Winer
- Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Sibylle Loibl
- Center for Hematology and Oncology Bethanien, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Javier Cortes
- International Breast Cancer Center, Pangaea Oncology, Quiron Group, Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.,Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martine Piccart
- Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Giuseppe Viale
- Department of Pathology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.,University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Richard D Gelber
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Frontier Science & Technology Research Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts
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8
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Poad H, Khan S, Wheaton L, Thomas A, Sweeting M, Bujkiewicz S. The Validity of Surrogate Endpoints in Sub Groups of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Defined by Treatment Class and KRAS Status. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14215391. [PMID: 36358810 PMCID: PMC9654686 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Findings from the literature suggest that the validity of surrogate endpoints in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) may depend on a treatments' mechanism of action. We explore this and the impact of Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) status on surrogacy patterns in mCRC. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for pharmacological therapies in mCRC. Bayesian meta-analytic methods for surrogate endpoint evaluation were used to evaluate surrogate relationships across all RCTs, by KRAS status and treatment class. Surrogate endpoints explored were progression free survival (PFS) as a surrogate endpoint for overall survival (OS), and tumour response (TR) as a surrogate for PFS and OS. Results: 66 RCTs were identified from the systematic review. PFS showed a strong surrogate relationship with OS across all data and in subgroups by KRAS status. The relationship appeared stronger within individual treatment classes compared to the overall analysis. The TR-PFS and TR-OS relationships were found to be weak overall but stronger within the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor + Chemotherapy (EGFR + Chemo) treatment class; both overall and in the wild type (WT) patients for TR-PFS, but not in patients with the mutant (MT) KRAS status where data were limited. Conclusions: PFS appeared to be a good surrogate endpoint for OS. TR showed a moderate surrogate relationship with PFS and OS for the EGFR + Chemo treatment class. There was some evidence of impact of the mechanism of action on the strength of the surrogacy patterns in mCRC, but little evidence of the impact of KRAS status on the validity of surrogate endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Poad
- Biostatistics Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Sam Khan
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Lorna Wheaton
- Biostatistics Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Anne Thomas
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Michael Sweeting
- Biostatistics Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Sylwia Bujkiewicz
- Biostatistics Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
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Systemic therapy for early-stage breast cancer: learning from the past to build the future. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:763-774. [PMID: 36253451 PMCID: PMC9575647 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-022-00687-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The treatment of breast cancer has improved dramatically over the past century, from a strictly surgical approach to a coordinated one, including local and systemic therapies. Systemic therapies for early-stage disease were initially tested against observation or placebo only in adjuvant trials. Subsequent clinical trials focusing on treatment ‘fine-tuning’ had a marked increase in cohort size, duration and costs, leading to a growing interest in the neoadjuvant setting in the past decade. Neoadjuvant trial designs have the advantages of enabling the direct evaluation of treatment effects on tumour diameter and offer unique translational research opportunities through the comparative analysis of tumour biology before, during and after treatment. Current technologies enabling the identification of better predictive biomarkers are shaping the new era of (neo)adjuvant trials. An urgent need exists to reinforce collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and academia to share data and thus establish large databases of biomarker data coupled with patient outcomes that are easily accessible to the scientific community. In this Review, we summarize the evolution of (neo)adjuvant trials from the pre-genomic to the post-genomic era and provide critical insights into how neoadjuvant studies are currently designed, discussing the need for better end points and treatment strategies that are more personalized, including in the post-neoadjuvant setting. Systemic therapies for early-stage disease have been tested in clinical trials for decades. The authors of this Review provide an overview of the evolution of (neo)adjuvant trials from the pre-genomic to the post-genomic era, focusing on design, end points and biomarkers that, together, could enable the delivery of more personalized treatment. Systemic therapy for patients with early-stage breast cancer has dramatically improved over the past eight decades, and the aims and designs of (neo)adjuvant clinical trials have consistently evolved. The transition of clinical trials from the pre-genomic to the post-genomic era has been based on a deeper understanding of disease biology and a higher level of interest in the discovery of molecular markers associated with a response to treatment. The currently adopted approach to the design of neoadjuvant trials requires a new wave of changes, with the implementation of validated end points with more robust predictive associations with survival outcomes and more personalized treatment strategies (escalation and/or de-escalation). The evolution towards a more personalized treatment approach is leading to increasing interest in the post-neoadjuvant setting to investigate new drugs specifically in patients with high-risk disease. Optimizing the efficiency of the search for novel biomarkers that can guide treatment tailoring requires the establishment of large, well-annotated databases of candidate biomarkers linked with clinical outcomes that are also easily accessible to the scientific community. Early sharing of data from clinical trials should be based on joint efforts and reinforced collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and academic entities.
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Drummond MF, Hartgers-Gubbels ES, Chambers M. Value Insider Season 1 Episode 1: The Importance of Payers and HTA: How Did We End Up Here? (Introduction to Value) [Podcast]. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:7487-7492. [PMID: 36213303 PMCID: PMC9532943 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s389025] [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: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of payers and HTA: How did we end up here? In this episode of the Value Insider podcast, host Mike Chambers speaks with Prof. Mike Drummond about Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and how value is defined. Prof. Drummond is professor of Health Economics of York University, former president of the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), and author of two major textbooks in the field, as well as over 700 publications, and has acted as consultant to the WHO as well as European Union with regards to value assessment. Starting from the very beginning, Prof. Drummond explains in a simple yet engaging way why demonstrating value of new interventions has become so important.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisabeth Sophia Hartgers-Gubbels
- Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
- Correspondence: Elisabeth Sophia Hartgers-Gubbels, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany, Email
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Implications of Oncology Trial Design and Uncertainties in Efficacy-Safety Data on Health Technology Assessments. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:5774-5791. [PMID: 36005193 PMCID: PMC9406873 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29080455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Advances in cancer medicines have resulted in tangible health impacts, but the magnitude of benefits of approved cancer medicines could vary greatly. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process used to inform resource allocation through a systematic value assessment of health technology. This paper reviews the challenges in conducting HTA for cancer medicines arising from oncology trial designs and uncertainties of safety-efficacy data. Methods: Multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar) and grey literature (public health agencies and governmental reports) were searched to inform this policy narrative review. Results: A lack of robust efficacy-safety data from clinical trials and other relevant sources of evidence has made HTA for cancer medicines challenging. The approval of cancer medicines through expedited pathways has increased in recent years, in which surrogate endpoints or biomarkers for patient selection have been widely used. Using these surrogate endpoints has created uncertainties in translating surrogate measures into patient-centric clinically (survival and quality of life) and economically (cost-effectiveness and budget impact) meaningful outcomes, with potential effects on diverting scarce health resources to low-value or detrimental interventions. Potential solutions include policy harmonization between regulatory and HTA authorities, commitment to generating robust post-marketing efficacy-safety data, managing uncertainties through risk-sharing agreements, and using value frameworks. Conclusion: A lack of robust efficacy-safety data is a central problem for conducting HTA of cancer medicines, potentially resulting in misinformed resource allocation.
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Zhang Y, Naci H, Wagner AK, Xu Z, Yang Y, Zhu J, Ji J, Shi L, Guan X. Overall Survival Benefits of Cancer Drugs Approved in China From 2005 to 2020. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2225973. [PMID: 35947385 PMCID: PMC9366546 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.25973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Of approximately 9 million patients with cancer in China in 2020, more than half were diagnosed with late-stage cancers. Recent regulatory reforms in China have focused on improving the availability of new cancer drugs. However, evidence on the clinical benefits of new cancer therapies authorized in China is not available. OBJECTIVE To characterize the clinical benefits of cancer drugs approved in China, as defined by the availability and magnitude of statistically significant overall survival (OS) results. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This mixed-methods study comprising a systematic review and cross-sectional analysis identified antineoplastic agents approved in China between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2020, using publicly available data and regulatory review documents issued by the National Medical Products Administration. The literature published up to June 30, 2021, was reviewed to collect results on end points used in pivotal trials supporting cancer drug approvals. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome measure was a documented statistically significant positive OS difference between a new cancer therapy and a comparator treatment. Secondary outcome measures were the magnitude of OS benefit and other primary efficacy measures in pivotal trials. RESULTS Between 2005 and 2020, 78 cancer drugs corresponding to 141 indications were authorized in China, including 20 drugs (25.6%) (for 30 indications) approved in China only. Of all indications, 26 (18.4%) were evaluated in single-arm or dose-optimization trials, most of which were authorized after 2017. By June 30, 2021, 34 drug indications (24.1%) had a documented lack of OS gain. For 68 indications (48.2%) that had documented evidence of OS benefit, the median magnitude of OS improvement was 4.1 (range, 1.0-35.0) months. After a median follow-up of 1.9 (range, 1.0-11.1) years from approval, OS data for 13 indications (9.2%) were either not reported or were still not mature. Fewer than one-third of cancer drug indications approved in China only had documented evidence of OS benefits (9 of 30 [30.0%]), whereas more than one-half of the cancer drug indications also available in the US or Europe had OS benefits (59 of 111 [53.1%]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, almost half of cancer drug indications approved in China had demonstrated OS gain. With the increase of cancer drug approvals based on single-arm trials or immature survival data in recent years, these findings highlight the need to routinely monitor the clinical benefits of new cancer therapies in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Huseyin Naci
- LSE Health, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anita K. Wagner
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ziyue Xu
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Zhu
- Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiafu Ji
- Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Luwen Shi
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- International Research Centre for Medicinal Administration, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Guan
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- International Research Centre for Medicinal Administration, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Largent EA, Peterson A, Karlawish J, Lynch HF. Aspiring to Reasonableness in Accelerated Approval: Anticipating and Avoiding the Next Aducanumab. Drugs Aging 2022; 39:389-400. [PMID: 35696021 PMCID: PMC9247014 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-022-00949-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The US Food and Drug Administration's decisions about drug approval-though guided by science, as well as relevant statutes, regulations, and guidance documents-reflect normative judgments about how the agency should exercise its discretion. This is particularly true in the context of the "accelerated approval" pathway, where the agency must balance speeding to market drugs for patients with unmet needs before they have been proven to work and ensuring confidence about the benefits and risks of those drugs. A key challenge in evaluating normative judgments such as these is that reasonable people can disagree, rendering it difficult to proclaim with certainty that a particular decision is right or wrong. Therefore, we propose that it is preferable to ask whether a decision is reasonable. A decision is reasonable when it transparently, comprehensively, and fairly balances the interests of affected parties, within the parameters of the decision maker's legal authority. If a decision achieves these three qualities, it can be viewed as legitimate and worthy of trust and confidence, regardless of whether one agrees with the particular outcome. We recommend that the Food and Drug Administration adopt procedural protections to promote reasonableness in four domains affecting accelerated approval decisions: pathway gatekeeping, endpoint selection, stakeholder engagement, and deliberation. This should aid the agency in minimizing controversies, such as that surrounding the 2021 approval of aducanumab (Aduhelm; Biogen).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Largent
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Blockley Hall, Room 1403, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Andrew Peterson
- Department of Philosophy, Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Jason Karlawish
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Blockley Hall, Room 1403, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Holly Fernandez Lynch
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Blockley Hall, Room 1403, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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Assouline S, Wiesinger A, Spooner C, Jovanović J, Schlueter M. Validity of event-free survival as a surrogate endpoint in haematological malignancy: Review of the literature and health technology assessments. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2022; 175:103711. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Shin G, Kwon HY, Bae S. For Whom the Price Escalates: High Price and Uncertain Value of Cancer Drugs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074204. [PMID: 35409887 PMCID: PMC8998346 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The price of cancer drugs has skyrocketed, yet it is not clear whether their value is commensurate with their price. More cancer drugs are approved under expedited review, which considers less rigorous clinical evidence, yet only 20% of them show an overall survival gain in the confirmatory trial. Moreover, clinical data are often generated based on small, single-arm studies with surrogate outcomes, challenging economic evaluation. With their high price and uncertain (marginal) clinical value, cancer drugs are frequently rejected by health technology assessment (HTA) bodies. Therefore, agencies, including the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), have adopted cancer drug funds (CDF) or risk-sharing schemes to provide extra access for expensive cancer drugs which fail to meet NICE's cost effectiveness threshold. With rising pricing and fewer new cancer medications with novel mechanisms of action, it is unclear if newly marketed cancer therapies address unmet clinical needs or whether we are paying too much. Transparency, equity, innovativeness, and sustainability are all harmed by a "special" approach for cancer medications. If early access is allowed, confirmatory trials within a certain time frame and economic evaluation should be conducted, and label changes or disinvestment should be carried out based on those evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyeongseon Shin
- College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
| | - Hye-Young Kwon
- Division of Biology and Public Health, Mokwon University, Deajeon 35349, Korea;
| | - SeungJin Bae
- College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea;
- Correspondence:
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Prugger C, Spelsberg A, Keil U, Erviti J, Doshi P. Evaluating covid-19 vaccine efficacy and safety in the post-authorisation phase. BMJ 2021; 375:e067570. [PMID: 34949587 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-067570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christof Prugger
- Institute of Public Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Keil
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Juan Erviti
- Unit of Innovation and Organization, Navarre Health Service, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Peter Doshi
- University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Conforti F, Pala L, Sala I, Oriecuia C, De Pas T, Specchia C, Graffeo R, Pagan E, Queirolo P, Pennacchioli E, Colleoni M, Viale G, Bagnardi V, Gelber RD. Evaluation of pathological complete response as surrogate endpoint in neoadjuvant randomised clinical trials of early stage breast cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2021; 375:e066381. [PMID: 34933868 PMCID: PMC8689398 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-066381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate pathological complete response as a surrogate endpoint for disease-free survival and overall survival in regulatory neoadjuvant trials of early stage breast cancer. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Medline, Embase, and Scopus to 1 December 2020. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR STUDY SELECTION Randomised clinical trials that tested neoadjuvant chemotherapy given alone or combined with other treatments, including anti-human epidermal growth factor 2 (anti-HER2) drugs, targeted treatments, antivascular agents, bisphosphonates, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Trial level associations between the surrogate endpoint pathological complete response and disease-free survival and overall survival. METHODS A weighted regression analysis was performed on log transformed treatment effect estimates (hazard ratio for disease-free survival and overall survival and relative risk for pathological complete response), and the coefficient of determination (R2) was used to quantify the association. The secondary objective was to explore heterogeneity of results in preplanned subgroups analysis, stratifying trials according treatment type in the experimental arm, definition used for pathological complete response (breast and lymph nodes v breast only), and biological features of the disease (HER2 positive or triple negative breast cancer). The surrogate threshold effect was also evaluated, indicating the minimum value of the relative risk for pathological complete response necessary to confidently predict a non-null effect on hazard ratio for disease-free survival or overall survival. RESULTS 54 randomised clinical trials comprising a total of 32 611 patients were included in the analysis. A weak association was observed between the log(relative risk) for pathological complete response and log(hazard ratio) for both disease-free survival (R2=0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.00 to 0.29) and overall survival (R2 =0.08, 0.00 to 0.22). Similar results were found across all subgroups evaluated, independently of the definition used for pathological complete response, treatment type in the experimental arm, and biological features of the disease. The surrogate threshold effect was 5.19 for disease-free survival but was not estimable for overall survival. Consistent results were confirmed in three sensitivity analyses: excluding small trials (<200 patients enrolled), excluding trials with short median follow-up (<24 months), and replacing the relative risk for pathological complete response with the absolute difference of pathological complete response rates between treatment arms. CONCLUSION A lack of surrogacy of pathological complete response was identified at trial level for both disease-free survival and overall survival. The findings suggest that pathological complete response should not be used as primary endpoint in regulatory neoadjuvant trials of early stage breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Conforti
- Division of Melanoma, Sarcomas and Rare Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pala
- Division of Melanoma, Sarcomas and Rare Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Sala
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Oriecuia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Tommaso De Pas
- Division of Melanoma, Sarcomas and Rare Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Specchia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Rossella Graffeo
- Breast Unit of Southern Switzerland, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Pagan
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Queirolo
- Division of Melanoma, Sarcomas and Rare Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Pennacchioli
- Division of Melanoma, Sarcomas and Rare Tumors, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Colleoni
- Division of Medical Senology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Viale
- Department of Pathology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Bagnardi
- Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Richard D Gelber
- Medical School, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, and Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Boston, MA, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Byrne
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medical and Health Sciences, Ireland
| | | | - Susan M Smith
- HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medical and Health Sciences, Ireland
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