Developing New Medicines

• What are the two main uses of drugs mentioned in the video?

  Relieve symptoms and help cure diseases
• Why have microorganisms and plants been valuable in drug development?

  They produce substances that kill pathogens
• What is aspirin commonly used for?

  To lower fevers and relieve pain
• What is digitalis used to treat?

  Heart problems like heart failure
• Who discovered penicillin and how?

  Alexander Fleming discovered it from a fungus
• What are the three main aspects 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?

  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 first step in clinical testing?

  Giving the drug to healthy volunteers
• What is the purpose of starting with a low dose in clinical testing?

  To check for any problems or side effects
• What is the aim of increasing the dose 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?

  A substance that looks like the drug but has no effect
• Why are clinical trials often double-blind?

  To avoid unconscious bias in results
• What happens after drug testing is complete?

  Results are written up and peer-reviewed
• Why is peer review important in drug testing?

  It checks for fairness and prevents false claims
• What are the potential biases in clinical trials?

  • Volunteers may report side effects differently
  • Doctors may notice side effects based on knowledge
  • Placebo effects can influence results