Development of Drugs

 

Historical Examples:  

1. Digitalis → from foxgloves → treats heart failure  

2. Aspirin → from willow bark → pain relief  

3. Penicillin → Fleming discovered from mould → kills bacteria

 

Modern Process (scientists must follow this order):  

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1. Preclinical testing → test on lab cells → then tissues → then live animals  

2. Clinical trials:  

   ◦ Low dose on healthy volunteers  

   ◦ Optimum dose on patients  

   ◦ Double-blind trial → drug vs placebo (fake pill)  

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A placebo is a drug that looks like the real thing but has no active ingredient so actually does nothing. We do double-blind trials as neither the doctor nor the patient know whether the pill the patient is given is real or not. This prevents bias and prevents people from pretending that the drug does more than it actually does.