A clinical trial is a scientific study in people that helps to determine if and how a drug or therapy works. These can also be called clinical studies, or clinical research. Clinical research helps us answer specific questions about an investigational drug , such as:
- Is it effective?
- Is it more effective than another established treatment?
- Is it safe and/or what are its side effects?
The development of a new medicine can take more than 10 years. Although long, this length of time is vital to ensure each medicine is tested rigorously.
With each phase of clinical trials, our knowledge about a medicine and its safety and effectiveness grows.