Thursday, May 31, 2012

Step 9: Clinical Trials

If our mouse experiments have shown that a candidate drug is safe and effective, it is time to move on to the final stage: clinical trials!

Ultimately, the clinical trials will tell us whether people get the same benefits from the treatment as the mice did.  These trials are very heavily monitored and regulated by the government to ensure that researchers gain the most information while ensuring the safety of the people participating in the research. 

Clinical trials have multiple phases, including phases to determine dosages, efficacy, and side effects of the treatment.  These trials frequently last several years and involve children and adults with the condition we are working to treat.

Once a treatment has made it through the clinical trials and has been approved by the FDA, it is finally available for treatment!

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