Developing new medicines

• What is the purpose of developing new medicines?

  To treat diseases safely and effectively
• Why must new drugs be well tested before use?

  To ensure they are safe and effective
• What are the stages of pre-clinical trials for new drugs?

  1. Computer models predict human response
  2. Testing on human cells and tissues
  3. Testing on animals
• What is the first step in pre-clinical trials?

  Using computer models
• What is the purpose of using computer models in drug testing?

  To predict a human's response to a drug
• What is the next step after computer models in pre-clinical trials?

  Testing on human cells and tissues
• Why do some people oppose animal testing for drugs?

  They believe it is cruel to animals
• What happens if a drug passes animal testing?

  It is tested on human volunteers
• What are the steps in clinical trials for new drugs?

  1. Test on healthy volunteers
  2. Test on patients with the illness
  3. Compare results between drug and placebo groups
  4. Conduct blind and double-blind trials
  5. Monitor for side effects over time
• What is the purpose of testing a drug on healthy volunteers first?

  To check for harmful side effects
• What is a placebo?

  A substance that looks like the drug
• How do researchers compare the effectiveness of a new drug?

  By comparing results from drug and placebo groups
• What does it mean for a clinical trial to be blind?

  The patient doesn't know their treatment
• What is a double-blind clinical trial?

  Neither patient nor doctor knows treatment
• Why are clinical trials often double-blind?

  To prevent bias in results
• How long do human drug trials usually last?

  They usually last a very long time
• Why is it important to monitor side effects over time?

  Some side effects appear after a long time
• What is the overall process of drug testing from development to human trials?

  1. Pre-clinical trials: computer models, cells, animals
  2. Clinical trials: healthy volunteers, patients
  3. Blind and double-blind testing
  4. Long-term monitoring for side effects
• What is the final step before a drug is approved for use?

  Successful clinical trials on humans
• What is the main concern regarding animal testing?

  It may be considered cruel
• What is the significance of the phrase "better to be safe than sorry" in drug testing?

  It emphasizes the importance of thorough testing
• What is the difference between a blind clinical trial and a double-blind clinical trial?

  Double-blind means neither knows treatment