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December 29, 2025
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Episode 43, “The Rumor of One Trial for Substantial Evidence”

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In this episode of "In the Interim…", host Dr. Scott Berry and frequent co-host Dr. Kert Viele, Senior Statistical Scientist at Berry Consultants, analyze the potential shift in FDA regulatory policy from requiring two independent trials to accepting a single trial as sufficient for “substantial evidence” in drug approvals.

Rumors persist that the FDA could replace the familiar two-trial requirement for substantial evidence with a single trial—with more statistically demanding thresholds.

In episode 43 of "In the Interim…," Dr. Scott Berry and Dr. Kert Viele analyze this possible shift, both believing the one trial hurdle could provide better analyzes, and not lowering the bar, but it completely depends on the hurdle for that single trial. Both believe one trial at 0.000625 is better than two at 0.025 and the sample size needs are smaller.

They critique the duplicative, arbitrary nature of current standards, emphasizing that robust approvals rest on accumulating enough rigorous evidence.

Tune into the full episode today: https://www.berryconsultants.com/resource/43-the-rumor-of-one-trial-for-substantial-evidence

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