8.9 - Developing New Medicines
Peer review
- Once all the testing and trials are complete, the results are written up and go through peer review before they are published.
- In peer review, the work is scrutinised by other scientists of at least the same standing, who check that the methods and conclusions are sound.
- This independent checking helps prevent false claims or unreliable results from being accepted.
- It is a central part of how science is validated.
Testing drugs on animals
- In the preclinical stage, a new drug must be tested on live animals before it reaches people.
- In Britain, the law requires this animal testing.
- Animal testing carries both benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits and drawbacks
- Benefit (safety) - It checks a drug isn't dangerous, and measures how harmful it is and what dose to use, before any person takes it.
- Drawback (ethics) - Many people object to using animals in testing, because it can harm them.
New technologies
- Computer models and other new technologies are increasingly used to predict a drug's effects.
- These may one day replace some animal testing.
TermDefinition
Peer reviewThe checking of scientific work by other scientists who are experts in the same field before it is published. They make sure the methods and conclusions are sound.