Drug development requires clinical trials to test new drugs for safety and effectiveness in treating diseases like bacterial infections. Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics through mutations occurring during reproduction, necessitating continuous development of new drugs. Later phase clinical trials increase participant numbers to further assess safety and efficacy in diverse populations before public use. Thorough testing helps prevent tragedies like thalidomide and Northwick Park hospital trials, where insufficient safety testing harmed volunteers. Placebo-controlled, double-blind trials and sourcing drugs from natural substances like plants aim to develop safe and effective new treatments through ethical clinical research.

1. Drug Development antibiotic resistance drug trials drugs from natural substances

2. bacterial resistance bacteria reproduce once every 20 minutes mutations in the DNA happen can happen this can enable some bacteria to be resistant to antibiotic drugs exposure to antibiotics increases resistance MRSA is a bacteria that cannot be killed ( it is a ‘superbug’) new drugs always need to be developed

3. 4 phases of clinical trials safety and dosage tests check drug works in humans random testing public use sample size increases at each stage

4. thalidomide given to pregnant women in 1950’s for morning sickness babies had birth limb defects

5. northwick park hospital medical trials went wrong volunteers nearly died

6. reasons for taking part in a drug trial money to assist with medical research to help others to recieve drugs that may help with an otherwise untreatable disease Videoclip on drug trial How is fair testing carried out in the trial? What is a placebo? What is a double blind trial?

7. drugs from plants aspirin – willow bark wormwood - fights malaria st johns wort - depression