• Question: what does the clinical trial test?

    Asked by karina to Darren, Deuan, Duncan, Lori-An, Michelle on 22 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Lori-An Etherington

      Lori-An Etherington answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      There are 3 phases to clinical trials. In phase 1 the drug is examined in healthy human volunteers (generally up to 100 people) to see if it is safe, what dose is required and does it actually work. In Phase 2 it is tested to see if it works in patients who would need the drug and Phase 3 involves getting evidence in larger populations. If a drug passes all these phases successfully then goes through an approval process where it is approved for medical licence. Even after it is in use it is still monitored (phase 4) to maintain safety.

    • Photo: Michelle Hudson-Shore

      Michelle Hudson-Shore answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      There are different phases of clinical trials but basically they test whether a new drug is safe and whether it works well and in the way that it is supposed to.

    • Photo: Darren Nesbeth

      Darren Nesbeth answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      The ability of a new drug to do what it says on the tin.

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