Using phase II data for the analysis of phase III studies: An application in rare diseases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clinical research and drug development in orphan diseases are challenging, since large-scale randomized studies are difficult to conduct. Formally synthesizing the evidence is therefore of great value, yet this is rarely done in the drug-approval process. Phase III designs that make better use of phase II data can facilitate drug development in orphan diseases.

Methods

A Bayesian meta-analytic approach is used to inform the phase III study with phase II data. It is particularly attractive, since uncertainty of between-trial heterogeneity can be dealt with probabilistically, which is critical if the number of studies is small. Furthermore, it allows quantifying and discounting the phase II data through the predictive distribution relevant for phase III. A phase III

SUBMITTER: Wandel S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5833035 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature