Drug development

Animal testing is a vital part of drug development. A candidate drug is initially tested in isolated cells, tissue slices or organs. Studies in living animals show whether the drug works the same way inside the body as it did in the artificial environment of the laboratory. They also indicate how the drug effects the interactions between different cells and organs of the body. If a potential drug appears to be effective in animals, and passes initial safety screening, then it can be studied in human trials.