English National Curriculum - Science

Discovering and developing drugs

Mission Objectives

Describe how new medicines are discovered and developed

Explain the stages of drug testing

Explain why double-blind trials and placebos are used

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Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

double blind trial

a type of clinical trial where neither the patients nor the doctors know who is receiving the real drug and who is receiving the placebo

efficacy

how well a drug works to treat or cure a disease

preclinical trials

testing a drug in laboratories using cells, tissues and animals to check if it is safe and effective before it is given to humans

clinical trials

a series of tests on healthy volunteers and patients to check a drug’s safety, effectiveness and correct dose

placebo

a fake treatment that looks like the real drug but has no active ingredient; it is used to compare results and make trials fair

This lesson has been written by

Samantha Batch

Samantha is an accomplished science educator whose current work centres on curriculum design and professional development, supporting teachers to deliver high-quality science education through evidence-informed approaches. She is a former Head of Chemistry and Sixth Form Tutor with extensive Key Stage 4 and 5 experience, and has worked as an AQA examiner, giving her valuable insight into assessment standards and what students need to succeed.

Underpinning this is a strong foundation in applied science built across a range of industry roles. Samantha has held scientific roles at John Smith's Brewery, Yorkshire Water and WasteCare, where she led technical projects, drove operational efficiencies and ensured compliance with industry standards. Across these roles she has first-hand experience of how scientific knowledge translates into measurable outcomes in professional and commercial environments.

In her spare time, Samantha enjoys playing the accordion with her local orchestra and has recently taken up cricket. 

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