Is it a Fair Trial? Posted on October 19, 2007 Lauren B. Marangell (bio) describes her litmus test for industry studies.

In any industry trial, we look at the design, and I look at it both in terms of is this a study that I think is good for patients, and my litmus test is if I had a family member, would I say, this is a good trial for you to be in. That you’ll benefit no matter what randomized arm you’re in. Sooner or later, this trial will benefit you.

The other thing that I look at is the overall design and is it fair? And so you can design a study so that it’s balanced and it’s a true test of the scientific intervention where is A better than B. Or you can design a study where the odds are towards one or the other by aggressive dosing, by the way you measure outcomes.

And I think it’s our responsibility as independent investigators to make sure that those trial designs are scientifically valid, and I don’t wanna have my name associated with a study that I think is not a fair scientific representation of the question that it’s supposed to answer.

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