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Science Friday > Archives > 2000 > May > May 5, 2000: Hour Two: Developing New Medicines / Clinical Trials
Before scientists test a new medicine on people, they first study how it acts on the molecular level, then on cells and tissue in a lab dish, then on healthy animals, then on animals that have a similar form of a human disease--and only then can it be tested on healthy humans. The long testing process, and the multiple hoops that new medications must be put through, are often offered as an explanation for the high cost of prescription medications. Nutritional supplements and herbal remedies fall under a different set of rules. Though they can affect your health, for either good or ill, they're regulated more like foods than like drugs. Manufacturers of supplements and herbal remedies, under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, must only provide information that supports their conclusion that new ingredients may be reasonably expected to be safe. The FDA must show that a product on the market is unsafe before it can take steps to restrict use of the product. Still, supplements are big business - consumers spent over $6.5 billion on them in 1996, according to one study. Coming up on Science Friday, we'll talk about the development process for new drugs and herbal remedies, and the different regulations that apply to each. We'll also take a look at the clinical trials process, and find out how and why some patients volunteer to test new medications.
Guests: Robert Finn Dr. Joseph Betz Books/Articles Discussed: Related Links: Produced By: Nada Mangialetti |
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