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Table 3 Aspects of early stopping of 52 clinical trials that stopped for futility

From: A systematic survey of randomised trials that stopped early for reasons of futility

Characteristics

 

N

Who made decision to stop early

Investigators on advice from DSMB / DSMB / Sponsor / Executive committee / Not stated

30 / 3 / 3 / 1 / 15

Actual information % at last IA

<  40 / 40–59 / 60–79 / 80+ / Not stated or unclear

11 / 20 / 12 / 6 / 3

Basis for stoppinga

Continuation would not change results

Futility mentioned

Lack of treatment effect

Conditional power

Prior guidelines / boundary or threshold crossed

“unlikely to become statistically significant”, or similar statement.

Other

3

23

20

3

9

9

8

How futility was described

Futility claimed, no details

Futility analysis described, but CP not reported

CP reported in detail

Not stated or unclear

35

4

11

2

Conditional power evaluation

Reported by authors / Calculated by us / Impossible to calculate

11 / 25 / 16

Analyses after last IA

Yes / No / Unclear or not applicable

21 / 23 / 6 / 2

  1. a: Multiple responses possible