8: External Data in Clinical Trials

In this episode of "In the Interim…," Scott Berry and Kert Viele navigate the nuanced debate surrounding the integration of external data in clinical trials. Discover the implications and potential benefits and pitfalls of leveraging historical and real-world evidence in the analysis of clinical trials.

Key Highlights:

• Exploration of how external data can influence clinical trial analyses and the inherent risks versus rewards.

• Examination of the frequentist versus Bayesian perspectives on data integration.

• Discussion of real-world cases where external data has been used.

• Debate on the conservative nature of current scientific approaches and how they may hinder progress.

• Insight into the future of clinical trials harnessing external data – a step towards better medical science.

Quotes:

• "If prior data isn't generally leading us in the right direction, we ought to reconsider the basis of scientific inquiry." – Kert Viele

• "The industry's hesitance to use existing data slows innovation and limits our ability to bring effective treatments to market." – Scott Berry