We’ve witnessed several new products come to market in the past few months; it’s pretty astounding, given that years went by without any new products. You’ve probably heard about others that are in clinical trials. What does that mean, exactly?

The FDA requires that new drugs and treatments be tested for safety, and also to demonstrate that they effectively treat the disorder or disease for which they are being developed. Drugs always start with a

phase I clinical trial, and then may move to phase II and phase III trials. If a drug is found unsafe or ineffective at any stage, then the clinical trial will be ended, and research on the drug will be either modified or abandoned.

Phase I: After a new drug or treatment is initially tested on animals, researchers test it on a small group of people (20–80) to evaluate safety, determine the safe dosage range, and identify side effects.

Phase II: If a drug or treatment appears safe at the end of the phase I trial, researchers give it to a larger group of people (100–300) to evaluate its effectiveness in patients, and to further assess safety.

Phase III: At this stage, the drug or treatment is given to an even larger group of people (1,000–3,000) to confirm effectiveness over a broad range of patients, monitor side effects, compare to commonly used treatments, and collect information to promote safe use. For rare disorders such as hemophilia, it’s almost impossible to enroll 1,000 patients for a clinical trial. In these cases, the FDA will approve

phase II or III trials with much smaller populations.

Phase IV: Post-marketing studies provide more information, including the drug or treatment’s risks, benefits, and best use.

Clinical trials for new bleeding disorder products can take place only when patients volunteer to be in them. This may seem risky, trying a new product that hasn’t been FDA-approved yet. Yet you can participate in a clinical trial, to help research, to take advantage of a new product that is needed, or simply for free factor. You’ll need to speak with your HTC about joining but k

now as much as possible about the clinical trial you are interested in, 

about it. Use these questions as a guide:

• What is the purpose of the trial?

Great Book I Just Read

Astounding survival story of the 33 Chilean miners trapped over 1,000 feet underground for 69 days. Tobar skillfully introduces each man, his home life, aspirations, character flaws… all which would impact each’s reaction and perspective during their ungodly entombment. As in many crises, the positional leader does not always become the situational leader. This is as much a story of survival as it is leadership. Their time underground is gut-wretchedly and vividly portrayed. It seems a true miracle that they survived. The efforts to help the men spread internationally, and forever changed the Chilean mine industry. Five/five stars. (The movie “The 33” is good but not nearly as good as the book)