I don't think I entirely agree with your characterization of the situation and would like to push back a bit.
> 2. It is illegal to continue a trial to study the drug, because it has been proven so safe and effective that it isn’t ethical to not give the drug to half the patients.
Sorry, but where are you getting this from? I am pretty sure it is not illegal to continue a trial if it crosses an efficacy or futility boundary in the interim (happy to be corrected on this point). In fact, when futility boundaries are crossed in interim analyses (ie, when it seems a drug is most likely to be... (read 647 more words →)
I don't think I entirely agree with your characterization of the situation and would like to push back a bit.
> 2. It is illegal to continue a trial to study the drug, because it has been proven so safe and effective that it isn’t ethical to not give the drug to half the patients.
Sorry, but where are you getting this from? I am pretty sure it is not illegal to continue a trial if it crosses an efficacy or futility boundary in the interim (happy to be corrected on this point). In fact, when futility boundaries are crossed in interim analyses (ie, when it seems a drug is most likely to be... (read 647 more words →)