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Different Types of Clinical Trials

BayBiotech.NET
We often think of clinical trials as a principle method of studying new drugs, but there are many different types of trials that are designed to answer different questions related to health care and well beings of the human subject. Understanding the objective of your clinical trial and the entire process is the first step taken towards determining the regulatory pathways that will apply to a particular study. Depending on the end-goal different types of clinical trials are as under:
Prevention trials – Prevention trials look at substances and lifestyle factors that may raise or lower the risk of developing a clinical condition. e.g. effect of a particular type of food or exercise on preventing Diabetes.
Screening trials – Screening trials are designed to diagnose a condition in its early stages when it is often more curable. e.g. a newly developed imaging technique if used to screen breast cancer occurrence.
Diagnostic trials – Diagnostic trials are aimed to evaluate the methods to detect a clinical condition or to accurately measure the levels of a biomarker associated with the condition. E.g. various trials to test a newly developed kit for HIV.
Treatment trials – Treatment trials evaluate the ability of drugs, radiation, surgery, or other measures to treat a medical condition. These are the most conventional type of clinical trials and most tedious ones in terms of usage of times as well as resources.
Supportive care trials – Supportive care trials are also called quality-of-life trials. They study the ability of a drug or procedure to lessen the symptoms related to a condition. These trials are mainly designed around device developments.
Out of all the abovementioned trials, Treatment Trials are the most conventional types and referred while mentioning the clinical trials.
References: ClinicalTrials.gov & Medpedia.com

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