Early termination of drug trials.

The article discusses drug trial safety and data monitoring boards and their decisions to discontinue drug trials on the grounds of benefit or harm to trial subjects. The role off such boards is mandated by international guidelines, but the question arises as to when the boards have the responsibility of observing excess deaths and yet allow treatment to continue. The author notes that termination of trials causes financial losses to drug-developing companies and may discourage their will to develop innovative drug therapies.