A primary purpose of clinical trials is for the development of new drugs in a regional market. These drugs might be designed for prescriptions or for over-the-counter sales. Large companies that conduct clinical trials typically report those findings to the public in a press release. There are Internet sites that track clinical trial performance in an extensive database for a particular region. These databases include details about trials, ranging from the type of drug being tested, how to participate and the results of each testing phase.
One way to remain informed about clinical trial results is to become a clinical trial volunteer at a testing facility in your city. By doing so, you will know firsthand the type of reaction being generated by use of a drug that is under medical study. After a trial is over, follow up with the clinic where the study was being conducted or ask to be informed of the drug's performance in the trial.
There are different phases of a clinical trial, depending on the region in which a new drug is being developed. In the United States, clinical trial results are governed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before a drug is introduced to the market, it must successfully undergo four phases of clinical trials. Depending on clinical trial results, drug development can take years before the drug becomes available to the general public.
Each phase of a clinical trial is designed to produce a specific result. For instance, in the U.S., the first phase includes administering a drug to small groups of people to determine safety and effectiveness. If that phase is successful, the company typically will make an announcement of some sort, usually through a press release. A press release is a public document that can be accessed on the media or investor relations page of a company's website.
In the second phase of a U.S. clinical trial, a drug is given to a larger group of people. This trial is similar to the first phase in that the purpose is to test the safety and effectiveness of a drug, but the drug is distributed to a larger group of people. If these clinical trial results are successful, the drug enters the third phase of testing.
In the third phase, a drug is tested for side effects and effectiveness compared to other drugs on the market. The last phase of a clinical trial test combines clinical research data from previous testing phases. The results determine a drug's impact in relation to any side effects of its usage.
When a drug successfully completes all phases in a clinical trial, which again can vary depending on the region in which a drug is being developed, a company begins marketing the drug in that region. Retailers will advertise the drug's availability. Drug makers will begin marketing campaigns in which news of the clinical trial results will be disseminated.