How Can You Benefit From Clinical Trials?

A clinical trial gives researchers information about preventing, diagnosing and treating a condition with drugs, procedures, and other options. Patients who participate in clinical trials help create medical advances in:

• Drug therapy
• Proton therapy
• Radiation therapy
• Surgical procedures

Participation in clinical trials is voluntary. Patients enrolled in clinical trials often receive extra care coordination and attention from the clinical trials staff. When patients take part in a clinical trial, they help researchers find better treatments for others in the future, just as today’s patients benefit from the advancements in treatment that were made in past clinical trials.

Clinical trials happen in four phases necessary for FDA approval of a new treatment option. Those who enroll in a clinical trial will participate in one of these phases.

Phase I
Phase I clinical trials test new drugs, new combinations of two or more drugs, and devices or procedures. Researchers will determine how safe they are and look into the most effective doses. Side effects will also be tracked.

Phase II
Phase II clinical trials further evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a drug, device, or procedure. Researchers keep track of any medical benefits, as well as side effects.

Phase III
Phase III trials compare a new treatment or procedure with an existing, standard treatment or procedure to determine which works best. Evaluation of side effects and effectiveness continues.

Phase IV
Once a drug or procedure is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and made available to the public, researchers continue to study its safety to figure out the best use of the new treatment.