Developing New Medicines

• Why is it beneficial to use substances from microorganisms and plants for drug development?

  They have evolved to produce useful substances
• What is aspirin commonly used for?

  To lower fevers and relieve pain
• 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 produces the desired effect
• What does toxicity refer to in drug testing?

  How harmful the drug is to cells
• What does dosage refer to in drug testing?

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

  1. Testing on human cells and tissues
  2. Testing on live animals
  3. Clinical testing on humans
• What is the benefit of testing drugs on human cells and tissues?

  It allows for easy and cheap testing
• Why are live animals used in drug testing?

  To assess efficacy and toxicity in mammals
• What is the purpose of clinical testing?

  To test the drug on humans for safety
• What is the first step in clinical testing?

  Giving the drug to healthy volunteers
• What is the aim of increasing the dosage during clinical testing?

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

  Maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity
• What is a placebo in drug testing?

  • A substance that looks like the real drug
  • Does not have any therapeutic effect
  • Used to compare against the actual drug
• Why are clinical trials conducted as blind or double-blind?

  To avoid unconscious bias in results
• What is the significance of rigorous analysis in science?

  • Prevents false claims
  • Ensures validity of results
  • Maintains scientific integrity