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B5 Revision: Developing Drugs (1. Drug Discovery (Penicillin discovered by…
B5 Revision: Developing Drugs
1. Drug Discovery
Penicillin discovered by Alexander Fleming, petri dish containing mould had the outside free of bacteria as the mould was producing penicillin which was killing bacteria
Now, scientists use knowledge of how a disease works to try and identify molecules that could be used as drugs to fight the disease
2. Drug Testing:
Preclinical Testing:
Cells and tissues:
Drugs tested on human cells and tissue
Can't be used on human cells if it affects whole or many body systems (could be tested on a whole animal instead)
Live animals:
Test drug on live animals to test efficacy (if it works and has the right effect), toxicity (how harmful) and to find the right dosage (concentration and how often)
Clinical Testing:
Tested on human volunteers:
First on healthy to see what affect on body working normally and if it has harmful side affects, low dosage to start
Placebos:
A substance that looks like the drug but doesn't do anything
Doctor can see difference the drug makes
Blind (doctor knows) and double blind (no one knows) trials:
Patient and doctor doesn't know if they get the drug or the placebo until results have been given so doctors aren't subconsciously influenced by their knowledge
Results aren't published until they have been through a peer review (talk to scientists to check accurate) to prevent a false claim
Approved by medical agency so the drug is safe and as effective as possible
Importance of Drug Testing:
Drugs need to be tested thoroughly before usage to make sure they are safe
Thalidomide developed in 1950s:
Sleeping pill and relieving morning sickness in pregnant women
Hadn't been tested for morning sickness
Drug could pass through placenta and affect the fetus, causing abnormal limb development
Some babies born with no arms or legs
10,000 babies affected and half of them survived
More testing introduced, drug now used for some cancers and leprosy