MAGMA

MAGMA: Multiplicity Adjustment Guidance for Multi-Arm trials

On

A study funded by the NIHR investigating multiplicity adjustment approaches in confirmatory publicly funded multi-arm trials.

The study is investigating how researchers should choose and justify appropriate multiplicity adjustment approaches in multi-arm trials based on each trial’s features and context. The research aims to support clinical researchers, trialists, and statisticians to improve the conceptualisation and design of multi-arm trials by developing consensus driven guidance.

The project commenced on 1st April 2025.

Objectives

Review and describe the literature on multi-arm trial methodology, particularly recommendations on statistical approaches to multiplicity (Stage 1a).
Understand and summarise the statistical methodology used in contemporary publicly funded confirmatory multi-arm trials (Stage 1b).
Investigate the views, experiences and ideas of key stakeholders on multiplicity in multi-arm trials via interviews and focus groups (Stage 2).
Convene a consensus group to develop guidance for research teams on
- deciding if they need to adjust for multiplicity due to multiple treatment comparisons, and if so how, based on the trial’s features and context
- what to report to justify the choice of multiplicity adjustment approach in a multi-arm trial (Stage 3).
Demonstrate the use of guidance on prospective and retrospective multi-arm trial case studies (Stage 4).