This U.S. patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to: Indian Patent Application number 202421002945, filed on Jan. 15, 2024. The entire contents of the aforementioned application are incorporated herein by reference.
The disclosure herein generally relates to event and endpoint adjudication, and, more particularly, to a method and system for automated clinical event and endpoint adjudication.
Event and endpoint adjudication is a standard process for the assessment of safety and efficacy of pharmacologic or device therapies in clinical trials wherein an independent, and most of the time, blinded expert committee reviews clinical events that occur during the trial. These are assessed and adjudicated against a set of pre-defined criteria and supporting clinical documentation. Endpoint adjudication is managed in several ways, but mostly via electronic system which provides accountability and documentation of the entire process. The Clinical Event Committee (CEC) is responsible for the event adjudication process. It comprises of experts in the domain who come together to analyze the clinical trial data. The adjudication process is entirely dependent on the CEC which makes the process manual and prone to errors and human bias. Also, the process is time consuming and the delays in adjudication frequently impact the course of the clinical trial. Manual adjudication process presents inconsistencies due to human based intervention. Delays in adjudication can put the clinical study at risk of being suspended. It is challenging to automate the process of event adjudication since the data is huge and in silos. It is difficult to process the data with consistency following clinical trial adverse event definitions and adjudication guidelines. Currently, there are no solutions to generate clean, trustable, and consistent adjudication data and to use historical data to evaluate and monitoring adverse events prospectively. Currently available safety signals tools use outdated data to identified potential risk even during the study due to data access or process inefficiencies.
Embodiments of the present disclosure present technological improvements as solutions to one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems recognized by the inventors in conventional systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method for automated clinical event and endpoint adjudication is provided. The method includes obtaining an input data related to one or more clinical trials and clinical event adjudication. The input data comprises: (i) patient clinical information, and (ii) clinical trial master documents. Further, the method includes generating one or more adjudication rules from the clinical trial master documents and identifying one or more adjudicable clinical events and one or more endpoints from the patient clinical information based on the one or more adjudication rules. The method further includes determining a configuration of a plurality of processing models for processing the one or more adjudicable events and the one or more endpoints and executing the plurality of processing models according to the determined configuration using the patient clinical information to obtain a first result of the clinical event adjudication. Further, the method includes obtaining a second result of the clinical event adjudication by processing the one or more adjudicable events and the one or more endpoints using a pre-trained real world evidence inference model and applying a weighted average technique on the first result of the clinical event adjudication and the second result of the clinical event adjudication to obtain a final result of the clinical event adjudication. Furthermore, the method includes generating an adjudication report based on the final result of the clinical event adjudication and one or more adjudication forms comprised in the clinical trial master documents.
In another aspect, a system for automated clinical event and endpoint adjudication is provided. The system includes a memory storing instructions; one or more communication interfaces; and one or more hardware processors coupled to the memory via the one or more communication interfaces, wherein the one or more hardware processors are configured by the instructions to: obtain an input data related to one or more clinical trials and clinical event adjudication. The input data comprises: (i) patient clinical information, and (ii) clinical trial master documents. Further, the one or more hardware processors are configured to generate one or more adjudication rules from the clinical trial master documents and identify one or more adjudicable clinical events and one or more endpoints from the patient clinical information based on the one or more adjudication rules. The one or more hardware processors are further configured to determine a configuration of a plurality of processing models for processing the one or more adjudicable events and the one or more endpoints and execute the plurality of processing models according to the determined configuration using the patient clinical information to obtain a first result of the clinical event adjudication. Further, the one or more hardware processors are configured to obtain a second result of the clinical event adjudication by processing the one or more adjudicable events and the one or more endpoints using a pre-trained real world evidence inference model and apply a weighted average technique on the first result of the clinical event adjudication and the second result of the clinical event adjudication to obtain a final result of the clinical event adjudication. Furthermore, the one or more hardware processors are configured to generate an adjudication report based on the final result of the clinical event adjudication and one or more adjudication forms comprised in the clinical trial master documents.
In yet another aspect, there are provided one or more non-transitory machine-readable information storage mediums comprising one or more instructions which when executed by one or more hardware processors cause a method for automated clinical event and endpoint adjudication. The method includes obtaining an input data related to one or more clinical trials and clinical event adjudication. The input data comprises: (i) patient clinical information, and (ii) clinical trial master documents. Further, the method includes generating one or more adjudication rules from the clinical trial master documents and identifying one or more adjudicable clinical events and one or more endpoints from the patient clinical information based on the one or more adjudication rules. The method further includes determining a configuration of a plurality of processing models for processing the one or more adjudicable events and the one or more endpoints and executing the plurality of processing models according to the determined configuration using the patient clinical information to obtain a first result of the clinical event adjudication. Further, the method includes obtaining a second result of the clinical event adjudication by processing the one or more adjudicable events and the one or more endpoints using a pre-trained real world evidence inference model and applying a weighted average technique on the first result of the clinical event adjudication and the second result of the clinical event adjudication to obtain a final result of the clinical event adjudication. Furthermore, the method includes generating an adjudication report based on the final result of the clinical event adjudication and one or more adjudication forms comprised in the clinical trial master documents.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles:
Exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
Clinical event and endpoint adjudication is an important aspect of clinical study. As illustrated in
In order to overcome the drawbacks of traditional process, embodiments of present disclosure provide a method and system for automated clinical event adjudication. The system obtains input data required for clinical event adjudication including patient clinical information and clinical trial master documents. Then, adjudication rules are generated from the clinical trial master documents based on which adjudicable clinical events and endpoints are identified from the patient clinical information. Further, processing models for processing the adjudicable events and endpoints are configured and executed to get a first result of clinical event adjudication. A second result of clinical event adjudication is obtained by processing the adjudicable events and endpoints using a pre-trained real world evidence inference model. Then, a weighted average technique is applied on the first result and the second result to obtain a final result of clinical event adjudication based on which an adjudication report is generated. Since the method is completely automated, clinical event adjudication process is completed in a shorter time as compared to traditional process.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
The I/O interface device(s) (106) can include a variety of software and hardware interfaces, for example, a web interface, a graphical user interface, and the like and can facilitate multiple communications within a wide variety of networks and protocol types, including wired networks, for example, LAN, cable, etc., and wireless networks, such as WLAN, cellular, or satellite. In an embodiment, the I/O interface device(s) (106) receives patient clinical information and clinical trial master documents as input data and provides an adjudication report as output.
The memory (102) may include any computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes. The database 108 may store information but not limited to information associated with at least one of: input data, processing models, decision matrix, pre-trained real world evidence inference model and so on. Further, the database 108 stores information pertaining to inputs fed to the system 100 and/or outputs generated by the system (e.g., at each stage), specific to the methodology described herein. Functions of the components of system 100 are explained in conjunction with flow diagram depicted in
In an embodiment, the system 100 comprises one or more data storage devices or the memory (102) operatively coupled to the processor(s) (104) and is configured to store instructions for execution of steps of the method (200) depicted in
An example clinical protocol is given below
An example CEC charter is given below:
Events to be adjudicated: As per Clinical Protocol and CEC Charter the following were the safety events to be adjudicated-Site-reported and suspected events:
The clinical protocol or the CEC Charter (CEC Manual of Operations) describes—(1) the adjudicator selection as well as the roles and responsibilities of each CEC member, (2) the roles and responsibilities of external providers of CEC services, (3) determines whether the site reported endpoints meet the protocol-specified criteria and definitions for an event to be selected for adjudication (4) the adjudication criteria and clinical definitions to be apply to each event when assess it, and (3) the evaluation procedure the CEC will use in reviewing the trial endpoint/events to be adjudicated. The CEC charter is updated with each revision of clinical protocol only if it impacts the CEC process or clinical endpoint definition(s) is revised.
Each event shall include the information (but is not limited to or required): All clinical protocol and/or CEC Charter are defined and available documents related to the potential clinical endpoint or event to be adjudicated.
Once the input data is received, the clinical trial master documents maybe compared with one or more previously obtained clinical trial master documents to identify if there are older versions of the clinical trial master documents. Upon identification of the older versions of the clinical trial master documents, one or more changes in the clinical trial master documents are identified and the step 204 is performed only for the one or more changes. At the step 204 of the method 200, the one or more hardware processors 104 are configured to generate one or more adjudication rules from the clinical trial master documents. This step is performed by heuristic engine illustrated in
For example, the adjudication rules generated at step 204 for the above example clinical protocol and CEC charter are:
Once the one or more adjudication rules are generated, at step 206 of the method 200, the one or more hardware processors 104 are configured to identify one or more adjudicable clinical events and one or more endpoints from the patient clinical information based on the one or more adjudication rules. Clinical event is an adverse clinical situation such as myocardial infarction while endpoint refers to an analyzed parameter such as change from baseline at 6 weeks. Both of them are identified for performing adjudication. Further, at step 208 of the method 200, the one or more hardware processors 104 are configured to determine a configuration of a plurality of processing models for processing the one or more adjudicable events and the one or more endpoints. The steps 206 and 208 are performed by event understanding engine illustrated in
Once the plurality of processing models are selected, a vector indicating configuration of executing the plurality of processing models for the clinical event and endpoint adjudication is generated. Table 2 illustrates an example configuration. The processing models and their interconnection associated with the example configuration is illustrated in
Once the configuration of the plurality of processing models is determined, at step 210 of the method 200, the one or more hardware processors 104 are configured to execute the plurality of processing models (via brain ensemble engine illustrated in
In order to remove biasness in the adjudication result, at step 214 of the method 200, the one or more hardware processors 104 are configured to apply a weighted average technique on the first result of the clinical event adjudication and the second result of the clinical event adjudication. The weighted average technique is applied based on one or more weights determined using a historical data and a medical knowledge. For example, if many similar events or endpoints have been reported in the past, a higher weight will be assigned to the output from real world evidence inference model and vice versa. Finally, at step 216 of the method 200, the one or more hardware processors 104 are configured to generate an adjudication report based on the final result of the clinical event adjudication and one or more adjudication forms comprised in the clinical trial master documents. The adjudication report comprises filled one or more adjudication forms.
The written description describes the subject matter herein to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments. The scope of the subject matter embodiments is defined by the claims and may include other modifications that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have similar elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include equivalent elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
It is to be understood that the scope of the protection is extended to such a program and in addition to a computer-readable means having a message therein; such computer-readable storage means contain program-code means for implementation of one or more steps of the method, when the program runs on a server or mobile device or any suitable programmable device. The hardware device can be any kind of device which can be programmed including e.g., any kind of computer like a server or a personal computer, or the like, or any combination thereof. The device may also include means which could be e.g., hardware means like e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a combination of hardware and software means, e.g., an ASIC and an FPGA, or at least one microprocessor and at least one memory with software processing components located therein. Thus, the means can include both hardware means, and software means. The method embodiments described herein could be implemented in hardware and software. The device may also include software means. Alternatively, the embodiments may be implemented on different hardware devices, e.g., using a plurality of CPUs.
The embodiments herein can comprise hardware and software elements. The embodiments that are implemented in software include but are not limited to, firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. The functions performed by various components described herein may be implemented in other components or combinations of other components. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can comprise, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
The illustrated steps are set out to explain the exemplary embodiments shown, and it should be anticipated that ongoing technological development will change the manner in which particular functions are performed. These examples are presented herein for purposes of illustration, and not limitation. Further, the boundaries of the functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternative boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. Alternatives (including equivalents, extensions, variations, deviations, etc., of those described herein) will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Such alternatives fall within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Also, the words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other similar forms are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Furthermore, one or more computer-readable storage media may be utilized in implementing embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. A computer-readable storage medium refers to any type of physical memory on which information or data readable by a processor may be stored. Thus, a computer-readable storage medium may store instructions for execution by one or more processors, including instructions for causing the processor(s) to perform steps or stages consistent with the embodiments described herein. The term “computer-readable medium” should be understood to include tangible items and exclude carrier waves and transient signals, i.e., be non-transitory. Examples include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, hard drives, CD ROMs, DVDs, flash drives, disks, and any other known physical storage media.
It is intended that the disclosure and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202421002945 | Jan 2024 | IN | national |