Discovery & Development of New Drugs Flashcards
All 6 cards in this deck
What are the four stages of developing a new medicine, in order?
- Discovery
- Development
- Preclinical testing
- Clinical testing
What happens during preclinical testing of a new medicine?
The drug is tested in vitro on cultured cells/tissues and then on animals.
What happens during clinical testing of a new medicine?
The drug is tested on human volunteers: first healthy volunteers, then patients with the disease, to check it is safe and works.
A new antibiotic has just been discovered. What happens during the development stage that follows discovery?
The drug is refined — e.g. working out the dosage, how to give it (tablet or injection) and how to make it in large amounts.
Why is a new medicine tested on cultured cells and animals before it is given to humans?
To check it is safe (not toxic) and that it works, before risking harm to people.
True or false? Most substances discovered in the laboratory go on to become licensed medicines.
False. Most fail during testing because they are unsafe or ineffective, which is one reason development takes many years.