BSB - I don't think the 55 patients could be considered "random" as they were, by their very condition (rapid progressors) segregated from the trial group. (sorry, see this has already been covered :) )
And as you have noted, their life expectancy is sadly even worse than the rest, the rest considered terrible in and of itself.
With a life expectancy of only 7 to 10 months, this "information arm" is demonstrating at least a doubling of their LE.
I would like to know a little more data such as how many of them are still alive and when their treatment began. Is this OS a predicted number based on powering, or is it the actual number? It seems there is a possibility that some of these people may live even longer because this is still the information to date on this arm. Whether or not that's the case, this is still a window to what's happening in the blinded part of the trial.
It would be nice to hear the breakdown data for these 55, though. Perhaps Linda will give that on Wednesday.
Overall, I'm glad we're no longer in the dark on L. And it sounds as if rapid progressors can expect a doubled life expectancy; and one might think that the non-rapid progressors (if you can call them that) can expect at least the same.