What is experimental medicine?

Experimental medicine is defined as investigation undertaken in human beings, or samples provided by them, to test new discoveries and treatments.

Although experimental medicine is normally encompassed as Phase 0-II clinical trials, it may also employ or be embedded in any phase of clinical research study. That is, a clinical trial testing the efficacy or safety of a particular agent may have embedded within it an experimental medicine study investigating the mechanism or other aspect of the agent.

Last updated: 1 October 2009