Understanding and Mitigating Endpoint Bias in External Control Arms episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 9, 2026 · 28 MIN

Understanding and Mitigating Endpoint Bias in External Control Arms

from The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI · host Alexander Schacht and Benjamin Piske, biometricians, statisticians and leaders in the pharma industry

External control arms are becoming increasingly important in drug development, but creating valid comparisons requires more than matching patient populations. In this episode, I speak with Ben Ackerman, Director of Real-World Biostatistics at GSK, about one of the most overlooked challenges in external control arm studies: endpoint bias. We discuss why differences in how outcomes are measured can influence study results, what researchers should consider when designing studies, and how the field is evolving to address these challenges. If you work with real-world evidence, causal inference, or innovative clinical trial designs, this episode offers valuable insights into improving the credibility and transparency of external control arm analyses.

External control arms are becoming increasingly important in drug development, but creating valid comparisons requires more than matching patient populations. In this episode, I speak with Ben Ackerman, Director of Real-World Biostatistics at GSK, about one of the most overlooked challenges in external control arm studies: endpoint bias. We discuss why differences in how outcomes are measured can influence study results, what researchers should consider when designing studies, and how the field is evolving to address these challenges. If you work with real-world evidence, causal inference, or innovative clinical trial designs, this episode offers valuable insights into improving the credibility and transparency of external control arm analyses.

NOW PLAYING

Understanding and Mitigating Endpoint Bias in External Control Arms

0:00 28:41

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI?

This episode is 28 minutes long.

When was this The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI episode published?

This episode was published on June 9, 2026.

What is this episode about?

External control arms are becoming increasingly important in drug development, but creating valid comparisons requires more than matching patient populations. In this episode, I speak with Ben Ackerman, Director of Real-World Biostatistics at GSK,...

Can I download this The Effective Statistician - in association with PSI episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!