Why Are Clinical Trials Important?

Clinical trials are a core component of medical advancements. They play an important role in the FDA drug-approval process and provide researchers with invaluable data about a drug's safety, effectiveness, and side effects.
Clinical trials are designed to answer the following questions.

• Does the new treatment work?
• How does it work compared to other treatments?
• Does it have any side effects, and how severe are they?

Over 4,000 experimental drug therapies are conducted today, and that number will continue to increase in the future. Millions of Americans depend on medications, which is why researchers are devoted to exploring the best treatment options available.

So, why are clinical trials important? Here are a few reasons we've compiled for you:

Reason 1: Positive study results in Clinical Trials impact the lives of thousands of patients.

All clinical studies have one goal: to improve the lives of patients. Clinical studies work to achieve this objective in several ways, evaluating every aspect of patient care, from treatment efficacy to side effects.

For example, clinical trials can help:

• Prevent diseases by testing a vaccine.
• Detect or diagnose diseases or conditions, for example, by testing a blood sample.
• Treat diseases or conditions by testing a new medicine or other medical advances.
• Find out how people can control their symptoms or improve their quality of life by testing how a particular diet affects a condition.

Clinical research studies also improve the lives of nontraditional patients who may find themselves on the fringe of medical research – like pediatric patients. Since so few medical products are labeled for pediatric use, physicians often find themselves giving children products that are only licensed for adults. Clinical research helps doctors evaluate case-specific treatments to improve health outcomes for people with acute and chronic conditions.

Reason 2: Clinical Trials bring different types of new drugs, treatments, procedures, and medical devices to market.

A few examples of interventions that clinical trials can be used to test include:

• New medications/drugs.
• Medical devices.
• Complementary medicines, such as herbs and vitamins.
• Diets.
• Diagnostic or screening tests.
• Vaccines.

Every product that is used in clinical practice – from new medicines to vaccines and devices – has undergone a rigorous process in many phases of clinical trials before they are ever used in a physician's office or surgical suite. Without clinical study volunteers, discoveries and advances won’t happen!

Reason 3: Clinical Trials provide significant and accurate scientific data.

Researchers investigate medication safety and efficacy, potency, dosing, side effects, as well as drug impact on certain segments of the population. Clinical researchers closely monitor human subjects for changes and meticulously document findings.

Close contact with the participant is irreplaceable in the experimental drug approval process and is mandatory (for a good reason) before releasing medication to the general public.

Reason 4: Clinical Trials allow patients to be active in their treatment.

For many, the hope of personal health benefits is their main or only reason for taking part in a clinical trial. This might include getting new treatments they think might treat them, acquiring more medical knowledge about their condition, being screened (hoping either to be reassured or to get an early diagnosis); the chance of getting access to the care they feel will be better or more specialized, or faster access to care. Some people also take part for their own interest or curiosity.

Reason 5: Clinical trials are an option for people who have serious illnesses and no good treatments are available.

Several people wanted access to a new drug or treatment that was only available at that time through a trial. These included people with an immediately life-threatening condition such as cancer, some of whom believed it was their only hope, and others with long-term health conditions or other health problems.

Should you participate in a clinical trial?

Clinical trials could not exist without volunteers, and there are many potential benefits to participating in a clinical trial. Participants in clinical trials play an active role in their own health care; they gain access to cutting-edge research treatments before they are available to the general public. By participating, they help contribute to developing new and important treatments.

Progress in medicine cannot happen without the help and participation of volunteers. Patients are also compensated for their time and travel and are accompanied by a medical doctor throughout the process.

Before participating in a clinical trial, you will need to qualify. There are often specific criteria for meeting the qualifications of a clinical trial. If you decide to apply to a clinical trial, you will be asked a series of questions in a pre-screening interview. Sometimes, a second screening will take place to make sure you meet the qualifications for the clinical trial. If you do, then you will be able to be a part of the trial.

Interested in Enrolling in a Clinical Trial? Call Santos Research Center today!

Enroll in our currently open clinical trials and join us in helping the future of medicine at Santos Research Center, Corp. now!

We have completed over 400 clinical research trials. We use efficient and reliable systems to plan and manage quality clinical studies.

For more information about paid clinical trials, you may visit us at www.santosresearch.com.

If you are interested in participating in paid clinical research trials, call us at (813) 249-9100.