NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[flipper44]

Maybe, but the new guidances seem to be focused on early detection and/or significant site number detection of efficacy -- particularly early OS.

Let's assume NWBO started using a more powerful manufacturing system in Germany. Let's say the sites in Germany started showing remarkable efficacy. So remarkable that it is highly significant against the earlier cohorts in the trial.

There is something pretty brilliant here. You would not have to unblind the trial to determine that there was statistically significant efficacy against the earlier cohorts. This might be advantageous, particularly if the therapy helps the crossovers as well.

AVII and Ex will tell you that you have to achieve the correct endpoint, but the site specific language seems to leave discretionary room for interpretation on a case by case basis. Remember also we just saw Avastin get approved for rGBM even though its primary failed. Instead they used another endpoint.

What would the FDA do if the crossover proved completely confounding in Germany after the imagined manufacturing upgrade, but the German manufacturing improvement proved a quantum leap in therapeutic efficacy over historical and the prior trial cohorts ?

Do they act dumb, coldly follow the rules and doom near term progress for society, or do they work with what they are given? Can they think on their feet, or do more people die for years on end in such a scenario?

(Let's take this a step further. Suppose no efficacy interims were done. Suppose they stop countdown at t minus one second and say, hmm....maybe we should not do that so we can determine whether we need to ask for a new endpoint later? Maybe the endpoint should simply be measured against historical and prior trial cohort OS.)

If we are stupid, we (society) will continue to die early.

Remember, this is only for AA not FA -- under this scenario.