| Most consumers are unaware of the drug | | | | thousand will be able to show promising results, and |
| development process that goes behind the medicines | | | | only three compounds for every 30 will be able to |
| they take before these are released to the public. | | | | pass the first round of clinical trials. Only after its |
| Unbeknownst to many, it actually takes 10 to 12 | | | | component substances have gone through the clinical |
| years and nearly $900 million before a pharmaceutical | | | | trials will a drug be viable for release in the market. |
| company could introduce a new drug to the public. | | | | There are many different phases that a drug goes |
| It takes more than a decade to develop a new drug | | | | through that contribute to the long time it takes to |
| because the substances to be used in developing a | | | | be developed. Discovery, pre-clinical testing, and |
| pharmaceutical product must pass the pre-clinical and | | | | toxicity studies alone take at least six-and-a-half |
| clinical tests, and these substances aren't only a few. | | | | years, and it takes an additional 7 years for it to go |
| Pharmaceutical companies often research and test | | | | through Phase 1 through 3. Additionally, even after |
| thousands of different substances and compounds | | | | the substance has gone through a successful drug |
| before a new drug could be successfully introduced | | | | development, it may still undergo Phase 4 to test its |
| into the market. Although it may seem like | | | | safety and effectiveness, as well as to collect data |
| 10,000-30,000 substances are already more than | | | | from the results. |
| enough, only about 30 compounds for every | | | | |