phase 3 trials

I have a question for anyone that is aquainted with the trial procedures. Some of the patients are following on from the stage 2b trials,are they to be folded into the ongoing stage 3 trials or will they be treated as a seperate case? If they are treated seperately will the data of their cases be available on an ongoing basis? This would seem to me to be an excellent indicator as to the effectiveness of the drug on a continuing basis. Thereby bypassing the more lenghty ph.3 trials. That is if the company is allowed to release the data.