It almost seemed like your question was answered. On the right you had Dr.Bosch (and LP) advocating for patience. On the left you had Dr. Ashkan advocating for unblinding, because that is the only real test in a blinded trial. In the middle were the patients....whom the former three were completely in support of. In front of them was the Scientific Advisory Board.
Do you think they already received the data and made up their mind to extend the trial? I don't. Those Science Advisory Board members are powerful forces in their field, and they would have been at ASCO anyway, in my opinion. I think the spring refresh data collection is still currently underway.
Dr. Bosch started out the argument by cautioning the SAB not to unblind to soon. Next I think Dr. Ashkan said, in not so many words, come on, in order to assess a blinded trial you must unblind that trial. Progress is literally bottlenecked by the delay. Still, if Marnix is correct, it will have been important to wait until 36 months post surgery, because from the event rate he gave last year, the 36 month survival should improve. The SAB must be able to cut to the chase and make the determination regarding when this trial ends. (For instance, Dr. Bosch could make the same argument year after year) They must be able to tell LP you can't have perfection, as I'm sure they previously told Dr. Ashkan, you can't rush three year maturity.
To me, the SAB needs to bring some semblance of order to this debate. Potential patients cannot wait indefinitely, the science community community cannot wait for one trial to bottleneck everything else, investors cannot keep falling for the next goalpost, and management needs direction they clearly are not able to provide for themselves.
Respect Risk. Conduct Your Own Due Diligence. Manage your assets wisely. Diversify.
