Clinical trials

There are many reasons why people decide to enroll in clinical trials. It’s true that many clinical trials involve payment — which means that enrolling in a clinical trial can be a good way for a person to make money in a relatively short period of time, though it’s certainly not a “steady job” or career choice. Some people don’t care so much about the money; it might be an added benefit, but many who participate in clinical trials really believe in making a difference. Participating in a clinical trial allows you to be a part of developing treatments and cures, as well as helping researchers learn more about medical conditions. With that being said, clinical trials — including phase 1 clinical trials — are not something to take lightly. It’s important that researchers get the most accurate results possible; and for that matter, that those that take part in clinical trials are treated as they legally should be. Below, we’ll look into what you should expect when participating in a clinical study. This way, you can make an informed decision about being a part of a phase 1 clinical trial, and the clinical drug development that may follow.

What Are The Differences Between Phase 1 Clinical Trials And Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4Clinical Trials?

Before participating in a clinical trial, it’s crucial that you know what kind of clinical trial it is. There are three main types of clinical trials — phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3. Phase 1 clinical trials involve a researcher testing a experimental drug or treatment on a small group of people for the first time. Usually, the amount of people being tested is between 20 and 80, and this is done to evaluate the safety and side effects of the drug. A phase 2 study expands the pool of people being tested to 100 to 300, and for here the safety of the drug is further evaluated, as is its effectiveness. By phase 3, the number of people being tested stretches to 1,000 to 3,000 people. Its effectiveness is determined in phase 3, as well as its side effects. The drug or treatment will be compared with equivalent drugs or treatments. This information will be used to allow the experimental drug or treatment to be administered safely. The system then moves on to phase 4, in which the clinical trial team will submit a New Drug Application so that the drug may be approved to go to the market. Obviously, these clinical trials may vary in the amount of time they last. Medical research studies may also be suspended before moving forward with the next phase if the drug or treatment is determined to be too dangerous or ineffective early on.

What Should Clinical Trial Participants Expect?

Every clinical trial varies depending on the type of drug being tested and the medical research team doing the testing. In order to make sure that drugs are tested to the greatest extent possible, clinical trials tend to be fairly long. As of 1999, the average clinical trial lasted 460 days. By 2005, that time period had stretched to 780 days. What is very important is that a person gives informed consent before participating in a clinical trial. In the 9th revision of the American Psychological Association’s Ethics Code, informed consent is so valuable that it is has its own section, 8.02. If you don’t feel like you know everything about a clinical trial before it begins, then you have the right to back out.

What Are The Risks Associated With A Clinical Trial?

A clinical trial always poses certain risks, as the whole point of a drug treatment that is going under trial is that its side effects are not yet known. With that being said, there are ways in which researchers can predict the risks of certain drug treatments compared to others — so take that under advisement before choosing a clinical trial to take part in.