Definition: Phase 2 trials are done to see if an experimental medication or treatment works. A phase 2 trial is a clinical trial that is done after a phase 1 clinical trial shows that the treatment is reasonably safe. Since phase 1 clinical trials often test a treatment on only a small number of people, phase 2 trials also give more information on safety. If an experimental drug is found to be efficacious at this level, it then goes on to testing in a phase 3 clinical trial.
Further Reading:
Also Known As: phase II clinical trials
Examples:
Sarah’s oncologist told her she may want to consider a phase 2 trial that is being done to see if an experimental chemotherapy drug works for her type of lung cancer.
