A comparison test of a medication or other medical treatment (such as a medical device), versus a placebo (inactive look-a-like), other medications or devices, or the standard medical treatment for a patient's condition
a rigorously controlled test of a new drug or a new invasive medical device on human subjects; in the United States it is conducted under the direction of the FDA before being made available for general clinical use
{i} medical research, medical studies; research study; experiment carried out on human beings in order to evaluate the comparative efficacy of two or more therapies (Medicine)
When a new type of drug or medical treatment undergoes clinical trials, it is tested directly on patients to see if it is effective. Two rival laser surgery systems are undergoing clinical trials in the US
sometimes the FDA approves a drug for general use but requires to manufacturer to continue to monitor its effects; during phase IV the drug may be tried on slightly different patient populations than those studied in earlier trials