discovery and development of drugs

In order to ensure that new medicine is both effective and safe it must go through extensive testing and trials which can take up to 12years and cost around £1700 million

STAGE ONE: DRUG DISCOVERY

A new potential drug is discovered and simulation tests are ran, the target it also identified during this stage.

STAGE TWO: PRE-CLINICAL TESTS

During this stage the drug is tested on cells, tissues and organs to check if it is harmful.

STAGE THREE: PRE-CLINICAL TESTS

The next stage of pre-clinical testing is on animals such as mice, this is to understand how it works on live mammals.

STAGE FOUR: CLINICAL PHASE 1

This testing is on healthy volunteers, this tests if there is any side effects or if it is toxic/dangerous

STAGE FIVE: CLINICAL PHASE 2

A small group of patients is tested to test efficiency and to calculate dosage. Here a double blind trial is used.

STAGE SIX: CLINICAL PHASE 3

This time a large group of patients is tested to see if it is effective in different groups of people. Here a double blind trial is used.

STAGE SEVEN: ONGOING PHASE 4

A paper is published on the drug which is peer reviewed, then the drug is released.