Developing Drugs

• What is constantly being developed in the pharmaceutical field?

  New drugs
• What must new drugs undergo before being given to the public?

  They must go through a thorough testing procedure
• What are the three main stages in drug testing?

  1. Preclinical testing on human cells and tissues
  2. Testing on live animals
  3. Testing on human volunteers in clinical trials
• In preclinical testing, what are drugs tested on?

  Human cells and tissues
• Why can't human cells and tissues be used to test drugs affecting multiple body systems?

  Because they lack an intact circulatory system
• What is the next step after preclinical testing?

  Testing on live animals
• What is the purpose of testing drugs on live animals?

  To test efficacy and toxicity
• What is the goal of testing drugs on live animals?

  To ensure the drug works and is safe
• What happens if a drug passes animal testing?

  It is tested on human volunteers
• What is the significance of testing drugs on healthy volunteers first?

  To ensure no harmful side effects occur
• What is the purpose of gradually increasing the dosage during trials?

  To find the optimal dosage with minimal side effects
• What must be done if the results of the tests on healthy volunteers are good?

  Test the drugs on patients with illnesses
• What does the law in Britain state about new drugs?

  They must be tested on two different live mammals
• Why do some people believe testing on animals is cruel?

  They think it causes unnecessary suffering
• What do others believe about animal testing?

  It is the safest way to ensure drug safety
• What happens if a drug passes all tests on animals?

  It is tested on human volunteers
• What is the first step in clinical trials?

  Testing on healthy volunteers
• What is the purpose of randomizing patients in clinical trials?

  To eliminate bias in drug effectiveness
• What happens to patients during clinical trials?

  They are randomly assigned to receive the drug or placebo
• What is a placebo?

  A substance that has no therapeutic effect
• What is the purpose of using a placebo in trials?

  To compare the drug's effects against no treatment
• What can be concluded if the drug shows good results in trials?

  It can be approved for public use
• What is the final step if a drug passes all tests?

  It is approved for public use
• What is the role of the doctor in the clinical trial?

  To monitor the patient's response to the drug
• Why is it important for the doctor to see the effects of the drug?

  To ensure the drug is safe and effective
• What is the purpose of the drug testing procedure described?

  To test how well the drug works
• How are patients assigned in the drug testing procedure?

  Patients are randomly put into two groups
• What happens to one group of patients in the drug trial?

  They are given the new drug
• What is given to the other group of patients?

  A placebo that mimics the drug
• Why is a placebo used in drug trials?

  To compare effects against the new drug
• What does the doctor observe in the drug trial?

  The actual difference the drug makes
• What is the significance of the placebo effect in trials?

  Patients expect treatment to work better
• What type of trials are described in the study?

  Clinical trials
• What does it mean that clinical trials are blind?

  Patients do not know their treatment
• Why is it important that patients are unaware of their treatment?

  To prevent bias in the results
• What happens until all results are gathered in a trial?

  Neither patients nor doctors know treatments
• What is the role of the doctor during the trial?

  To monitor patients and analyze results
• How does peer review contribute to drug testing results?

  It validates the work and findings
• What is the purpose of peer review in research?

  To check the validity of the work
• What does peer review help prevent?

  False claims in drug effectiveness