Drug Development and Testing - Clinical Trials

• What are the two main uses of drugs mentioned in the video?


  To relieve symptoms and to help cure diseases
• Why is it beneficial to use substances from microorganisms and plants for drug development?


  They have evolved to produce substances that can kill pathogens
• What are the three examples of drugs derived from natural sources mentioned in the video?

  • Aspirin: developed from willow tree bark
  • Digitalis: derived from foxglove plants for heart problems
  • Penicillin: discovered from the penicillium fungus
• What is the primary function of aspirin?


  To lower fevers and relieve pain
• What condition is digitalis used to treat?


  Heart problems like heart failure
• Who discovered penicillin and how?


  Alexander Fleming discovered it by observing a fungus that killed bacteria in a petri dish
• What are the three main factors to consider when testing drugs?

  Efficacy, toxicity, and dosage
• What does efficacy refer to in drug testing?


  How well the drug works to produce the desired effect
• What does toxicity refer to in drug testing?


  How harmful the drug is to cells and whether it has side effects
• What does dosage refer to in drug testing?


  The amount or concentration of the drug that should be given
• What are the three main stages of drug testing?


  1. Testing on human cells and tissues (pre-clinical)
  2. Testing on live animals (pre-clinical)
  3. Clinical testing on humans
• What is the benefit of testing drugs on human cells and tissues in the laboratory?


  It allows for easy and cheap testing of many substances
• Why is testing on live animals important in drug development?

  It gives a good idea about the efficacy and toxicity of substances
• What types of live mammals must drugs be tested on in the UK?


  Two different types, such as mice and rabbits
• What is the purpose of clinical testing?


  To give the drug to humans and monitor for side effects
• What is the first step in clinical testing?


  Giving the drug to healthy volunteers starting with a low dose
• What is the aim of increasing the dose during clinical testing?

  To find the maximum dosage before side effects occur
• What is the goal of finding the optimum dosage in clinical testing?


  To maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity
• What is the purpose of using a placebo in clinical trials?


  • To compare the effects of the real drug
  • To avoid bias in reporting side effects
  • To ensure that results are valid
• What does it mean for a clinical trial to be blind?


  Participants do not know whether they are receiving the real drug or a placebo
• What is a double-blind trial?


  Neither the doctors nor the volunteers know who receives the real drug or placebo
• Why is it important to avoid unconscious bias in clinical trials?


  It can affect the reporting of side effects and results
• What happens to the results of drug testing after completion?


  They are written up and peer-reviewed by other scientists
• What is the purpose of peer review in drug testing?


  To ensure tests were fair and to prevent false claims
• What is the main topic of the video?

  The processes of development and testing of drugs
• What feedback does the presenter seek from viewers regarding video length?


  Whether longer videos work fine for them