Relative risk estimated from the ratio of two median unbiased estimates

Clinical trials often include binary endpoints. In some cases, no successes are observed and the usual large-sample estimates of relative risk are undefined. This paper proposes an estimator for relative risk based on the median unbiased estimator. The proposed relative risk estimator is well defined and performs satisfactorily for a wide range of data configurations. To facilitate the use of the estimator, a deterministic bootstrap confidence interval is also proposed, and a SAS MACRO is available to perform the necessary calculations. An ongoing randomized clinical trial motivated the development of the estimator and is used to illustrate the approach.