The development of medicine is an amazing phenomenon, but every new discovery needs its confirmation in the appropriate, desired reactions of the human organism. It is precisely for this purpose that clinical trials are organised - they serve to confirm the effect of a given drug or medical procedure.
What are clinical trials about?
It must not be regarded or confused with dangerous experimentation. In general, research is preceded by time-consuming exploration of a specific issue in the laboratory, often including animal testing.
All research must adhere to strict scientific and ethical standards that protect the health, safety and privacy of patients.
Types of clinical trials
There are essentially two types of research - the first is based on clinical trials and observing the effects of specific drugs or placebos on the health of patients and aims to test the researchers' new ideas in practice, while the second is based on long-term follow-up of processes in study patients, not necessarily related to the marketing of new substances.
Revolutionary medicines
Many of the drugs that are known and used today were developed and tested in clinical trials, such as in the case of leukaemia - back in 1999, only 30 per cent of patients survived a maximum of five years, but today, thanks to a series of studies, it is possible to cure the disease completely.
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Oncology clinical trials
When it comes to oncology clinical trials, I am mainly dealing with clinical trials. Scientists and doctors try to find new solutions for treating, preventing and diagnosing cancer, improving existing methods and minimising the side effects of existing drugs.
Different trials may occur at different stages of the disease. At the same time, it is important to know that not every willing patient can join a study; they must meet strict criteria, called inclusion criteria, which are decided by the recruiting doctor.
