discovering & developing drugs

• What does a new medicine/drug have to be?

  SAFE - must not be toxic or cause dangerous side effects

  EFFECTIVE - has to prevent/cure a disease or make you feel better

  STABLE - must be able to be stored over time + in normal conditions
• What is the process of medicine development?

  Research & discovery (what might work?)

  Preclinical testing (on cells, tissues, animals - what does work?)

  Clinical trials (on people - is it safe? How much do we need?)

  Peer review (helps prevent false claims.)
• What are some medicines developed from plants?

  digitalis (heart drug) from foxgloves

  aspirin (painkillers) from willow bark

  penicillin (antibiotic) not from a plant but mould.
• What are double blind trials?

   a trial where neither the researchers nor the patients know what they are getting. (actual drug or placebo)
• What is a placebo & what is it used for?

  Any treatment that has no active properties, such as a sugar pill. They are used as a control.