Drug Testing

• What effect do painkillers have on infectious diseases?

  Painkillers can only treat the symptoms but do not kill pathogens.
• What painkiller originates from a compound found in willow bark?

  Aspirin
• What antibiotic was discovered by Alexander Fleming from a type of mould?

  Penicillin
• What are the four qualities of a good medicine?

  ● Effective

  ● Safe

  ● Stable

  ● Able to be taken in and removed easily
• What three main factors are tested for when developing new drugs?

  ● Toxicity

  ● Efficacy

  ● Dose
• How is preclinical testing carried out?

  In a laboratory - uses cells, tissues and live animals
• How is clinical testing carried out?

  Uses healthy volunteers and patients. Firstly, the drug is tested at a low dose on healthy people - then tested on patients and on a larger scale to find the optimum dose. Often, one group receive a placebo (not the test drug) and the other group receive the actual drug, in order to assess its efficacy.
• What is the difference between a single-blind and a double-blind trial?

  In a single-blind trial, only the doctor knows whether the patient is receiving the drug or the placebo. In a double-blind trial, neither the patient nor the doctor knows. Double-blind trials help remove bias on the part of the doctor.
• What is a peer review?

  Where the results of drug trials are checked over by scientists knowledgeable in this field.