Drug development is the comprehensive process of bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to the market after its discovery and initial testing. This process involves several stages, including drug discovery, preclinical testing, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and post-marketing surveillance. During drug discovery, potential compounds are identified, synthesized, and tested for efficacy and safety. Preclinical testing involves laboratory and animal studies to evaluate the drug’s safety profile.
Once a compound shows promise, it enters clinical trials, which are conducted in phases to assess its safety, dosing, and efficacy in humans. After successfully completing clinical trials, the drug developer must submit an application to regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicines Agency (EMA), for approval to market the drug.
If approved, the drug proceeds to post-marketing surveillance, where ongoing safety monitoring occurs to identify any long-term effects. Drug development is a complex, lengthy, and expensive process, often taking years or decades to complete, and is critical for the advancement of medical treatments and patient care.
**Healthcare Advances in South Korea** South Korea's healthcare landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as new regulations take effect between 2024 and 2028. The **Second Comprehensive National Health Insurance Plan**…