Drug Development and Testing

This lesson covers drug development and clinical testing as required by the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification (1SC0). You need to understand the stages of drug testing (preclinical and clinical trials), the use of placebos and double-blind techniques, and why rigorous testing is necessary.

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Why Do New Drugs Need Testing?

Before any new medicine can be given to patients, it must be thoroughly tested to ensure it is:

1. Safe — it does not cause harmful side effects (or that any side effects are acceptable compared to the benefits)
2. Effective — it actually works to treat or prevent the disease
3. Stable — it can be stored and used without breaking down
4. Able to be absorbed — it can reach the target site in the body

Without rigorous testing, dangerous or ineffective drugs could reach patients, causing harm or giving false hope.

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Where Do New Drugs Come From?

New drugs can be discovered from a variety of sources: