discovery and development of drugs

• What sort of drugs can destroy viral pathogens?

  Antiviral drugs destroy viral pathogens, but it is difficult to kill a virus without damaging body tissues and this makes them very expensive to develop.
• What do painkillers do?

  Painkillers just stop an individual from feeling pain. They don't destroy any pathogens, they just make us feel a bit better by removing some of the symptoms.
• What about other medicines (ibuprofen and cough mixtures) ?

  Ibuprofen reduces inflammation, and cough mixtures just soothe, often by reducing friction in our throat or chest. They remove symptoms but don't destroy pathogens.
• Where do drugs come from?

  Traditionally drugs came from plant extracts or microorganisms. Even today, over 50% of all drugs originally came from plants (and many still do).
• How are new drugs developed?

  Scientists in the pharmaceutical industry synthesise (make) and test new drugs.
• What is digitalis?

  A heart drug, originally from the foxglove plant.
• What is aspirin?


  A painkiller originally from the willow tree.
• What is penicillin?

  The first antibiotic, discuvered by Alexander Fleming from the Penicillium mould.
• Why do drugs need to be trialled before public use?

  To check they are safe and effective. They are tested for toxicity (is it poisonous), efficacy (does it really work) and dose (what's the lowest dose that works).
• What is preclinical testing?


  Testing in a lab, on cells, tissues and live animals. Only drugs that pass preclinical trials can be used in clinical trials.
• What are clinical trials?

  Testing on people, both healthy volunteers, and patients who might benefit from the drug. The first clinical trials give tiny doses to make sure it is safe.
• What is a double blind trial?

  The people in the trial are split into two groups. One group will be given a placebo. The patients in the trial don't know which they are given and nor do the doctors.
• what do ibuprofen do

  reduce inflammation
• what do cough mixtures do

  soothe, often by reducing friction in our throat or chest. remove symptoms but dont destroy pathogens