Clinical trials must be performed before a drug can be recommended to the general public. These studies usually involve giving one group of patients the drug being investigated and another group an inactive substance called a placebo. This enables investigators to see if the drug is safe and effective. Sometimes the patients and the study investigators are unaware of who is taking the drug and who is taking the placebo. Investigators try to make sure that the people in both groups are similar in terms of age, type of disease and past treatment history, so that the trial results are as valid as possible.
Trials are usually designed to last for a set period of time that will allow the investigators to gather enough information about the drug’s safety and effectiveness. Although it is rare, studies can be halted early if a drug appears to be working well. This way doctors can offer all patients the opportunity to benefit from the drug.
