Researchers Cannot Easily Find Information About How the Mechanisms of Drugs Relate to Different Risk Factors

On average, Phase 1 clinical trials, which are meant to find the correct dosage for a new medication, can cost over $1.5 million and take several months to complete. The time and money spent finding the right dosage could be better used in later phases, but unfortunately, right now there is not a quick, consolidated way for scientists to understand the dosage and potential side effects of the medication they are testing.

                                               Cost for Clinical Trials (In Millions)

On top of the cost, there is also a risk to the participants in the trials when they receive a large range of dosages. Up to 3% of reactions have been found to be severe, meaning they left long terms effects or were potentially life-threatening. Although pre-clinical research can provide some information on how to dose, many researchers come into Phase I with a broad range of potential dosages. The main reasons for this are

1. Researchers cannot easily find information specific to their drug on dosages and potential side effects because there is limited research

2. Researchers cannot easily find information specific to their drug because they do not have the time to shift through the large amounts of literature available and hard to use databases

Because of these reasons researchers and missing out on maximizing their efficiency during clinical trials and other research programs and potentially putting their patients in harm's way.