Clinical Trials and Asthma- What You Need to Know
Approximately 25 million people in the United States suffer from asthma. This chronic respiratory condition causes wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Treatments for asthma are available, but there is no cure. Many people with asthma want to find new treatments to help them manage their condition. One way to do this is by participating in clinical trials. What is a Clinical Trial? A clinical trial is a research study that tests a new medical approach, device, medication, or other treatment. Clinical trials are used to determine if a new treatment is both safe and effective for humans. Most new treatments must go through three phases of testing before they can be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Why Participate in a Clinical Trial? People participate in asthma clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Some people want to access treatments that are not yet available to the general public. Others want to help researcher