A clinical trial was the comprehensive and controlled study of a new pharmaceutical product on humans.
In the United Kingdom, around the mid 2000s, clinical trials were carried out by companies in order to obtain a licence for their products. The product had to be developed and researched in a controlled clinical environment, meeting guidelines set out by the UK government. Under UK law, human trials had to be carried out on volunteers in a safe and ethical manner, so that the effects of the medicine could be closely monitored and recorded.
Prior to starting a medical trial, volunteers would be asked to take part in a medical examination by the facility conducting the trial. If the volunteer was deemed to be fit and healthy enough, they would proceed to the clinical trials. Requirements were different depending on the drugs under trial.
trialsportaluk.co.uk was a website through which potential volunteers could apply for clinical trials. The Pharm used this website to obtain volunteers. (TV: Reset)