Publications by authors named "A Koukounari"

Phase Ib/II oncology trials, despite their small sample sizes, aim to provide information for optimal internal company decision-making concerning novel drug development. Hybrid controls (a combination of the current control arm and controls from one or more sources of historical trial data [HTD]) can be used to increase statistical precision. Here we assess combining two sources of Roche HTD to construct a hybrid control in targeted therapy for decision-making via an extensive simulation study.

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Article Synopsis
  • Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can lead to serious health issues in newborns, such as sepsis and meningitis, and is linked to complications like stillbirth and preterm birth, highlighting the need for effective vaccines.* -
  • A study assessed the potential health impact and cost-effectiveness of vaccinating 140 million pregnant women globally in 2020 using a decision tree model, predicting significant reductions in infant GBS cases, deaths, and stillbirths.* -
  • The analysis estimated that a one-dose GBS vaccine program could cost about $1.7 billion but would save $385 million in healthcare costs, suggesting a positive net monetary benefit for implementing the vaccine.*
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Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) colonisation during pregnancy can lead to invasive GBS disease (iGBS) in infants, including meningitis or sepsis, with a high mortality risk. Other outcomes include stillbirths, maternal infections, and prematurity. There are data gaps, notably regarding neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI), especially after iGBS sepsis, which have limited previous global estimates.

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Sepsis and meningitis due to invasive group B (iGBS) disease during early infancy is a leading cause of child mortality. Recent systematic estimates of the worldwide burden of GBS suggested that there are 319,000 cases of infant iGBS disease each year, and an estimated 147,000 stillbirths and young-infant deaths, with the highest burden occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa.  The following priority data gaps were highlighted: (1) long-term outcome data after infant iGBS, including mild disability, to calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) or disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and (2) economic burden for iGBS survivors and their families.

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Neonatal invasive disease caused by Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is responsible for much acute mortality and long-term morbidity. To guide development of better prevention strategies, including maternal vaccines that protect neonates against GBS, it is necessary to estimate the burden of this condition globally and in different regions. Here, we present a Bayesian model that estimates country-specific invasive GBS (iGBS) disease incidence in children aged 0 to 6 days.

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