The Wonderful World of Medicines: Understanding Drug Trials and Formulations

The Wonderful World of Medicines: Understanding Drug Trials and Formulations

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to describe the process of discovery and development of potential new medicines, including preclinical trials and clinical trials.

Discovering New Medicines

Scientists use a variety of methods to discover new medicines, including studying the effects of different substances on biological systems.

Preclinical Trials

Before testing on humans, new medicines are tested on cells, tissues, and animals to understand their potential effects and safety.

Clinical Trials

Once a potential medicine has passed preclinical trials, it undergoes rigorous testing on human volunteers in clinical trials to determine its efficacy and safety.

Reasons for Drug Trials

Drug trials are carried out to check for toxicity, dosage, and side effects to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the medicine.

Toxicity Testing

Toxicity testing aims to determine the safe dosage of a medicine and to identify any potential harmful effects on the human body.

Dosage Verification

Understanding the correct dosage ensures that the medicine is effective without causing harm to the body.

Side Effects Assessment

Identifying and understanding potential side effects allows for informed decision-making about the risks and benefits of a medicine.

Formulations: Useful Mixtures

Formulations are mixtures designed to deliver the medicine in a useful and effective way, such as tablets, capsules, or syrups.

Importance of Formulations

The formulation of a medicine affects its delivery, effectiveness, and ease of use for the patient.

Purity and Melting Point

The purity of a substance affects its melting point, with purer substances having a higher and more consistent melting point.

Boiling Point and Purity

Similarly, the boiling point of a substance is affected by its purity, with purer substances having a higher and more consistent boiling point.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.