Speaker
Description
Bayesian Methods in Registered Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review of Studies on ClinicalTrials.gov Through 2024
Giles Partington & Christina Geyer: Phastar
Bayesian methods are increasingly being incorporated into clinical trial designs to improve flexibility, efficiency, and interpretability. Earlier reviews of published studies (Lee & Chu, 2012) illustrated how these approaches were applied across selected examples. Building on that foundation, we conducted the first registry-based review to describe how Bayesian methods are currently represented in interventional drug trials.
All interventional trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov through December 2024 were screened for mention of a Bayesian component. After removing non-drug and duplicate records, more than four hundred interventional trials with a Bayesian element were identified. Each was categorized by therapeutic area, trial size, trial phase, design type, and the role of the Bayesian methods within the analysis framework allowing for an investigation of the changes over time for trial characteristics.
The review shows a steady increase in the adoption of Bayesian methods over time, with early-phase oncology dose-finding studies remaining the most frequent application.
Although uptake is still modest relative to all registered interventional studies, the trajectory suggests sustained expansion and diversification of Bayesian methods. Capturing these methodological elements more explicitly in registry data would enhance reproducibility, transparency, and acceptance.
This work provides the first quantitative snapshot of Bayesian clinical trial activity derived directly from registry data. It demonstrates consistent growth and underscores the opportunity to strength how Bayesian design elements are documented and communicated across clinical research.
42858804419