Clinical trials listed for ITP are a starting point for discussion with a healthcare professional. Be sure you understand all the implications of the proposed treatment by reading the informed consent very carefully and speaking with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.
What are Clinical Trials?
Clinical Trials are controlled patient studies that must be performed before a new drug or treatment is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States and similar organizations in other countries. Clinical trials are also completed after a drug or treatment is approved to document the effectiveness of the treatment, or to gain approval to use the drug or therapy for a different disease or age group.
There are three main phases to clinical trials, completed in sequence. A Phase I study tests the safety and side effects of the drug. A Phase II study is initiated to determine the efficacy of the drug, to see if it works as anticipated. And, a Phase III study tests the efficacy of drug or treatment and documents the side effects in a large population of volunteers.
Finding a Clinical Trial
The best way to find the latest information on clinical trials is by visiting ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world. Pharmaceutical companies and researchers update this site frequently to ensure it contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date clinical trial listings. The database features an easy-to-use search facility and detailed guidance for patients and industry.
