Drug Discovery and Testing

• Some drugs with natural starting points:

  Digitalis from foxgloves

  Aspirin from willow bark

  Penicillin from Penicillium (Alexander Fleming)
• Stages of Testing

  1.Preclinical Testing: Test for toxicity and stability on Cells, tissues and animal

  2.Clinical Testing:Test for side effects, efficacy and dosage-Low dose to healthy volunteers and then Volunteers with disease(double blind trial with placebo)

  3.Peer Review:Other scientists check validity of data

  4.Licensing and continued monitoring