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Hi3 + 3: A model-assisted dose-finding design borrowing historical data

Duan Y, Wang SJ, Ji Y

Contemporary clinical trials, 2021

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In phase I clinical trials, historical data may be available through multi-regional programs, reformulation of the same drug, or previous trials for a drug under the same class. Statistical designs that borrow information from historical data can reduce cost, speed up drug development, and maintain safety.

PURPOSE: Based on a hybrid design that partly uses probability models and partly uses algorithmic rules for decision making, we aim to improve the efficiency of the dose-finding trials in the presence of historical data, maintain safety for patients, and achieve a level of simplicity for practical applications.

METHODS: We propose the Hi3+3 design, in which the letter "H" represents "historical data". We apply the idea in power prior to borrow historical data and define the effective sample size (ESS) of the prior. Dose-finding decision rules follow the idea in the i3+3 design (Liu et al., 2020 [1]) while incorporating the historical data via the power prior and ESS. The proposed Hi3+3 design pretabulates the dosing decisions before the trial starts, a desirable feature for ease of application in practice.

RESULTS: In most cases we investigated, the Hi3+3 design is superior than the i3+3 design due to information borrow from historical data. Even when the historical data is incompatible with the current data, it is capable of maintaining a high level of safety for trial patients and comparable performances without sacrificing the ability to identify the correct…

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