Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention in patients. They are the primary way that researchers find out if a new treatment, diagnostic drug or medical device is safe and effective in patients.

Before a clinical trial can begin, applicable regulatory authorities may require laboratory studies to assess a potential new medicine’s safety. When these studies involve animals, they are conducted under strict ethical and animal welfare standards. Clinical trials are then conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory and ethical standards to evaluate the medicine’s safety and performance in people.