5.20 - Developing New Medicines Flashcards
How were many drugs initially discovered?
Many drugs were initially discovered in plants and microorganisms.
How are new drugs mainly synthesized today?
New drugs today are mainly synthesized by chemists.
What must new drugs be tested for?
New drugs must be tested for toxicity, efficacy, and dose.
What are the two main testing phases for new drugs?
The two main testing phases are preclinical testing and clinical trials.
What can the chemicals that plants use to kill pests treat?
The chemicals can be used to treat symptoms or human diseases.
What is Aspirin used for and what is its origin?
Aspirin is used as a painkiller and originates from willow.
What is Digitalis used for and what is its origin?
Digitalis is used to treat heart problems and originates from foxgloves.
Who discovered Penicillin and how?
Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin by finding mould on his culture plates that killed bacteria.
What is preclinical testing?
Preclinical testing involves using cells, tissues, and live animals.
What is clinical testing?
Clinical testing involves using volunteers and patients.
How is a new drug first tested in clinical trials?
It is first tested on healthy volunteers with a low dose to ensure there are no harmful side effects.
How are patients tested for drug efficacy?
Patients are split into two groups: one receiving the drug and one receiving a placebo.
What is a placebo?
A placebo appears to look like the drug but has no active ingredient, so it has no effect.
What are single-blind and double-blind studies?
Single-blind studies have only the doctor knowing who receives the drug; double-blind studies have neither the patient nor doctor knowing.
What must happen to the results of drug testing?
The results need to be peer-reviewed by other scientists to check for repeatability.
