Statistical Considerations in the Design of Clinical Trials Targeting Prodromal Parkinson Disease. 2022

Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
From the Biostatistics Center (E.A.M.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston; Department of Biostatistics (C.S.C., M.C.B.), College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City; and Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (J.P.S.), New Haven, CT. emacklin@mgh.harvard.edu.

Clinical trials testing interventions for prodromal Parkinson disease (PD) hold particular promise for preserving neuronal function and thereby slowing or even forestalling progression to overt PD. Selection of the appropriate target population and outcome measures presents challenges unique to prodromal PD. We propose 3 clinical trial designs, spanning phase 2a, phase 2b, and phase 3 development, that might serve as templates for prodromal PD trials. The proposed phase 2a trial is of a 3-arm design of short duration and focuses on proof of concept with respect to target engagement and change in a motor outcome in a subset of prodromal participants who already manifest asymptomatic but measurable motor dysfunction as an exploratory aim. The proposed phase 2b trial suggests progression of dopamine transporter imaging specific binding ratio as a primary outcome evaluated annually over 2 years with phenoconversion to PD as a key secondary outcome. The proposed phase 3 trial is a large, simple design of a nutraceutical or behavioral intervention with remote administration and phenoconversion as the primary outcome. We then consider what additional data are needed in the short term to better design prodromal PD trials and examine what longer-term goals would accelerate discovery of safe and effective therapies for individuals at risk of PD. Clear and potentially context-specific definitions of phenoconversion and validation of intermediate endpoints are needed in the short term. The use of adaptive trial designs, master protocols, and research registries would help accelerate therapy development in the long term.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010300 Parkinson Disease A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a TREMOR that is maximal at rest, retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the brainstem. LEWY BODIES are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may also be found in a related condition (LEWY BODY DISEASE, DIFFUSE) characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1059, pp1067-75) Idiopathic Parkinson Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson Disease,Paralysis Agitans,Primary Parkinsonism,Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body,Parkinsonism, Primary
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D062706 Prodromal Symptoms Clinical or physiological indicators that precede the onset of disease. Prodromal Characteristics,Prodromal Period,Prodromal Signs,Prodromal Stage,Prodromal States,Prodromal Syndromes,Characteristic, Prodromal,Characteristics, Prodromal,Period, Prodromal,Periods, Prodromal,Prodromal Characteristic,Prodromal Periods,Prodromal Sign,Prodromal Stages,Prodromal State,Prodromal Symptom,Prodromal Syndrome,Sign, Prodromal,Signs, Prodromal,Stage, Prodromal,Stages, Prodromal,State, Prodromal,States, Prodromal,Symptom, Prodromal,Symptoms, Prodromal,Syndrome, Prodromal,Syndromes, Prodromal

Related Publications

Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
May 1971, Acta dermato-venereologica. Supplementum,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
January 1988, Progress in clinical and biological research,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
June 2011, Ungyong t'onggye yon'gu = The Korean journal of applied statistics,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
March 1997, Annals of periodontology,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
January 1990, Muscle & nerve,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
January 2008, Experimental neurology,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
January 2016, European neurology,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
August 2012, Nihon Geka Gakkai zasshi,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
September 1996, Medicina clinica,
Eric A Macklin, and Christopher S Coffey, and Michael C Brumm, and John Peter Seibyl
December 2020, Neurology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!