Secondary Endpoint — What It Means in Clinical Trials
Plain English Definition
Secondary endpoints are additional outcomes measured in a trial alongside the primary endpoint. They provide supporting evidence about the treatment's effects. Examples include quality of life, duration of response, side effect rates, or biomarker changes. A trial can still provide useful information through secondary endpoints even if the primary endpoint is not met.
Why It Matters
Secondary endpoints often capture things that matter to you as a patient — like quality of life, pain reduction, or how long a response lasts. These results supplement the primary endpoint data.
Example
A trial might list: "Secondary endpoints: objective response rate, duration of response, patient-reported quality of life, and pharmacokinetic profile."
Need help understanding eligibility criteria?
How to Read Eligibility Criteria →