How does a Medical Trial Work?
- Healthcare
- October 3, 2023
Have you ever wondered how breakthrough medications, life-saving treatments, and innovative healthcare solutions exist? What’s the remarkable journey from a promising idea in a lab to a transformative therapy that changes lives? The answer is the clinical trial, a meticulous process conducted on human participants, and the results determine the finalization status of the medical research.
You must have heard the word “Clinical Trial” many times during the peak phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The entire process was rigorous and took a lot of time, but we received the COVID-19 vaccine, which made our lives safer during the pandemic. Want to know what a medical trial is and how it works? You are at the right place, as we will share detailed information in this post.
What is a Clinical Trial?
A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study conducted in humans to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a medical intervention, such as a new drug, medical device, treatment, or therapeutic procedure. These trials are crucial in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care. In short, research must be done on Humans to understand the efficiency, risks, and side effects associated.
The scientists and researchers take care of numerous phases of the clinical medical trial. Here are the exact details about each Phase of the trial.
#1 – Phase I Trial
The Phase I trial is conducted between a small group of people; it’s the first stage, and utmost caution is taken in this stage. Usually, 100 participants are considered in this Phase, and then the smallest dose is provided to them, and the dosage is adjusted later. This study is done briefly to understand the safest dosage amount and the associated preliminary risks.
#2 – Phase II trial
The Phase II trial commences after the success of the Phase I trial. In this trial, a relatively more extensive group of participants is added, the dosage amount is adjusted to the optimal, and the vitals are monitored. In this Phase, the researchers may divide the participants into the control and actual groups, where the placebo medicine is provided to assess the effect on the participants. After completing the assessment, the researchers may move to the final Phase.
#3 – Phase III
Phase III is a large trial with more than 500 people at once. This is the final Phase of the entire trial process and takes the longest time. In this Phase, the optimal medicine dosage is given to the participants, and the efficacy is calculated. This Phase may last a few years, and after the final assessment, the regulatory approval is requested.
Regulatory Approval
After the conclusion of the trial phases, the collected data and findings are submitted to the respective regulatory authorities, and the regulatory approval application is submitted. Once approved, the medicine or the equipment can be mass-produced and prescribed to the patients.
Final Words
Clinical Trials play an essential part in the medical industry, as life-saving drugs, equipment, and regimes can be verified through the same. This has many benefits to the industry, and we’ve got a ton of life-saving medications through the same.
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