A clinical study is the bridge between ignorance and knowledge. However, it is essential that clinical trials are conducted correctly to avoid misinformation and breaches of consent. Everyone from individuals, small businesses and major corporations regularly conduct trials and studies in order to better understand the nature of product and consumer. Below is a simple overview on clinical drug development, its different stages and what it means for everyday people.
What Is A Clinical Study?
A clinical study is conducted to analyze properties and interactions between product and consumer. According to a survey conducted about clinical trials in the United States, over 95% of respondents have never participated in a clinical trial before. These can be done for everything from medicine to food to skincare applications.
What Is A Phase 1 Trial?
Each clinical study is conducted differently depending on the situation at hand. A phase 1 clinical trial will have researches testing an experimental drug or treatment in a small group of people, as low as 20 and as high as 80, for the very first time. This serves the function of identifying safety and identity side effects.
What Is A Phase II Trial?
A Phase II trial is a little different. Here the goal is to see the experimental drug or treatment administered to a much higher group of people, sometimes reaching 300 or so. This is also done to evaluate safety, effectiveness and common reactions. Medical research studies have been in place for hundreds of years, growing only as technology has.
What Is A Phase III Trial?
Last, but not least, we have a phase III trial. Here the experimental drug or treatment session is given to a very large group of people, ranging from 1,000 to just over 3,000. Due to the large number of people more significant patterns have a way of rising to the top and providing researchers with harder evidence to follow. Overall, this method is essential to collect information on the safest means of using a product.
How Can We Make Clinical Studies Safe?
At the end of the day, a safe clinical study is the best one. Respondents to a recent study found 46% of people ‘somewhat agreeing’ that taking part in clinical trials is as valuable to the health care system overall as donating blood. The year 1999 saw one clinical trial lasting nearly 460 days, while one in 2005 lasted over 780 days. Informed consent is so essential to this process that the 9th revision fo the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Code has its own section on the topic. With clinical studies on our side, the future is limitless.