6.4 developing drugs

• scientists test large numbers of drugs to see if they might cure a disease or relieve sysmptoms.
• Researchers test new drugs to make sure they are effective, safe and stable.
• preclinical testing is carried out in laboratories on cells and tissues or organs. If the drug works it is then tested on animals.
• after the preclinical trials, clinical trials take place on healthy human volunteers and then finally on patients.
• to find out if a drug is safe, healthy people are given very low doses.
• In some trials with patients, a placebo is used. A placebo doesn't contain a drug. Some patients have the drug and others are given the placebo. This is to check that the drug being tested really does have an effect on the patient.
• In a double-blind trial, neither the doctor nor the patient knows who is given a drug and who has the placebo.
• People taking part in a drug trial are asked to report any side effects.