Game On, page-300

“Top-line Results” is a statistical term of art. It is analogous to “Bottom-line Results” as a finance term of art. In other words, Top-line Results are the outcomes of the analyses (e.g., totals, frequencies, distributions or marginals) that are the output of a statistical analysis – whether that analysis is based on preliminary data or final data.

In the clinical arena, Top-line Results (regardless of the stage of the trial or the phase of the trial) speak to the statistical significance of the trial results coming out of the subject population. Pharma often cites Top-line Results as the basis for its decision to terminate a trial or to continue a trial.