A safety estimand for late phase clinical trials where the analysis period varies over the subjects

Evaluating safety is as important as evaluating efficacy in a clinical trial, yet the tradition for safety analysis is rudimentary. This article explores more complex methodologies for safety evaluation, with the aim of improving the interpretability, as well as generalizability, of the results.

For studies where the analysis periods vary over the subjects, using the International Council for Harmonisation estimand framework, we construct a formal estimand that could be used in the setting of safety surveillance that answers the clinical question of 'What is the magnitude of the increase in risk of experiencing an adverse event if the treatment is taken, as prescribed, for a specific period of time?'. Estimation methodologies for this estimand are also discussed.

The proposed estimand is similar to that found in the efficacy analyses of time to event data (e.g. in outcome studies), with the key difference of utilization of hypothetical intercurrent event strategy for the intercurrent event of treatment discontinuation. This is motivated by what we perceive to be a key difference for the safety objective compared to efficacy objectives, namely a desire for sensitivity (i.e. greater possibility of detecting a negative impact of the drug, if such exists) as opposed to the need to prove a positive effect of the drug in a conservative manner.

It is valuable, and possible, to use the International Council for Harmonisation estimand framework not only for efficacy but also for safety evaluation, with the estimand driven by an interpretable, and relevant, clinical question.