Clinical research and testing of drugs and procedures is a necessary part of the process of bringing these medical methods safely into the market.
Drugs are tested in three phases - first for safety, then for efficacy and finally for overall performance. Less than 1/3 of all experimental drugs make it through all phases and acquire final FDA approval.
People may participate in clinical trials for various reasons, including the ability to gain access to potentially promising new drugs long before they are approved and available. The medical care asssociated with the trial is usually free to the patient, along with an occasional small fee paid to the participant.
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