>If you assume that viral load measurements are continued at regular intervals after treatment stops , say monthly , then you could get a good feel for the final results very quickly…<
Isn’t that’s a strong assumption for the follow-up (non-treatment) period of a phase-2 clinical trial? As these patients are not permitted to switch to another therapy during the six-month follow-up period, what information of practical use would be gained by conducting a blood test every month? (This is not a rhetorical question; I’m genuinely asking.)