title: Decision-theoretic designs for phase II clinical trials allowing for competing studies.
abstract: This article describes an approach to optimal design of phase II clinical trials using Bayesian decision theory. The method proposed extends that suggested by Stallard (1998, Biometrics 54, 279-294) in which designs were obtained to maximize a gain function including the cost of drug development and the benefit from a successful therapy. Here, the approach is extended by the consideration of other potential therapies, the development of which is competing for the same limited resources. The resulting optimal designs are shown to have frequentist properties much more similar to those traditionally used in phase II trials.
authors.affiliation: Medical and Pharmaceutical Statistics Research Unit, University of Reading, P.O. Box 240, Earley Gate, Reading RG6 6FN, UK. n.stallard@reading.ac.uk
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stallard
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design