development of drugs

• drugs need to be tested for:

  • toxicity, efficacy and dose
  • this is done by pre clinical testing and clinical trials
• preclinical testing:

  • testing on cells, tissues
  • phase 2 - testing on small animals, like rats
• clinical testing:

  • using volunteers and patients
  • first tested on healthy volunteers with a low dose - side effects
  • then tested on patients to find the most effective dose
  • the results are then peer viewed to check for repeatability
• single blind tests:

  • only the doctor knows whether the patient is receiving the actual drug or the placebo
  • no biases of the patient
• double blind tests:

  • neither the patient nor the doctor know whether the patient is receiving the drug or the placebo
  • removes any biases from both parties