What is the main purpose of the Drug Approval Process?

The main purpose of the Drug Approval Process is to ensure that drugs are safe and effective for public use. This process typically involves rigorous testing, including preclinical studies and multiple phases of clinical trials, to evaluate a drug's safety profile, therapeutic efficacy, potential side effects, and pharmacokinetics. Regulatory agencies, such as the FDA in the United States, closely monitor and review this data before granting approval to market a new medication.

This thorough examination contributes to protecting public health by restricting the availability of untested or potentially harmful substances. The goal is to provide healthcare providers and patients with confidence that the medications they use are both effective for the intended purpose and safe for consumption. Ensuring that drugs undergo comprehensive evaluation is crucial in preventing public health crises that could arise from the introduction of ineffective or dangerous medications.