collected during this phase. Phase III testing may last 1 to 4 years, and approximately 25-30% of drugs tested during this phase move on to Phase IV.
Phase IV
In Phase IV, after a drug is approved by the FDA and made available to the public, researchers track a drug’s safety amongst volunteers in the general population while seeking more information about optimal benefits and use.
READ: Why Blacks Are Underrepresented In Clinical Trials
What you should consider
The clinical trial’s protocols define who is eligible to participate. Individuals may be included or excluded from a clinical trial depending on their age, gender, health, or medical conditions.
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If you’d like to participate in a clinical trial, you should know the risks and potential benefits. When weighing the risks of participating in clinical research, you should think about the possible harms that could result from taking part in the study.
Most clinical trials pose only the risk of minor discomfort. Still, the specific risks associated with a clinical research protocol will be described in detail in an informed consent document which participants will consider and sign before participating in research.
A research team member will explain the study and answer any questions about the study you might have.
A well-executed clinical trial will allow you to access new research treatments before they are widely available, help others by contributing to research about new procedures, and receive professional medical attention from a research team of doctors and health professionals.
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Information on how to find current clinical trials can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov
