隨著近年醫藥推陳出新,新藥大幅提升和延長癌癥患者的存活率和存活期,癌癥已由過往人人聞之色變的噩耗,漸漸演變成一種慢性疾病。不過,在醫療科技躍進的同時,癌細胞也悄悄起了變化,因應治療的方向作出反抗,與科研人員展開一場漫長的搏鬥。
要勝出這場搏鬥和繼續為癌癥病人帶來希望,實有賴公衆和病人積極參與臨牀試驗,透過臨牀試驗解答醫護人員在診治病人時遇到的難題,以及加快研發應用於不同癌癥、期數的抗癌新藥,讓醫護人員能夠利用新藥戰勝癌癥。
在香港,臨牀試驗一般會於不同醫院或醫療中心進行,參與者須符合臨牀試驗的招募條件,並經過嚴謹的篩選程序方能參加。
我們現正招募合資格病人參加以下臨牀研究,如欲參加,可聯絡我們的職員了解更多:
如欲了解其他正於香港招募的臨牀試驗,你可瀏覽以下兩家大學臨牀試驗中心的網頁:
研發新藥是一個漫長的過程。在研發前期,科研人員需要在實驗室內進行一連串複雜的研究及測試,包括在動物身上進行試驗,以初步了解藥物在生物體內的作用;在新藥推出市面之前,科研人員則需要透過臨牀試驗,評估新藥應用在人類的效果,而科研人員會利用藥物動力學(pharmacokinetics)糢型推算,從藥物適用於人體的最低劑量開始試驗,確保臨牀試驗的安全性。數據顯示,癌癥新藥平均需花費6年時間研究及測試,方能進入臨牀試驗的階段,即使開始臨牀試驗,亦需要大概8年時間才會獲得審批。
研發新藥是一個漫長的過程。在研發前期,科研人員需要在實驗室內進行一連串複雜的研究及測試,包括在動物身上進行試驗,以初步了解藥物在生物體內的作用;在新藥推出市面之前,科研人員則需要透過臨牀試驗,評估新藥應用在人類的效果,而科研人員會利用藥物動力學(pharmacokinetics)糢型推算,從藥物適用於人體的最低劑量開始試驗,確保臨牀試驗的安全性。數據顯示,癌癥新藥平均需花費6年時間研究及測試,方能進入臨牀試驗的階段,即使開始臨牀試驗,亦需要大概8年時間才會獲得審批。
Due to the different methods used to verify pharmacology, effectiveness, and safety, clinical trials are usually divided into several phases to find answers to different questions. Generally speaking, clinical trials can be divided into four phases.
Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 | Phase 4 | |
Purpose | Explore the pharmacology and safety of the drug. Find the highest dose suitable for use in humans, without causing serious side effects. | Evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the drug at different doses. | Compare the efficacy and safety of new drugs with conventional treatment options or placebo. Some phase III clinical trials will also investigate the impact of new drugs on patients’ quality of life. | Evaluate the conditions in which patients take the drug after it is launched on the market, including the long-term efficacy and side effects of the drug. |
Recruitment target group | Healthy adults. Some clinical trials will also recruit patients, mainly cancer patients. Some drugs will be tested on patients with different types of cancer. | Patients for which the drug is indicated. | Patients for which the drug is indicated. | Patients who are currently taking the drug or have already ceased taking the drug. |
Number of recruits | Within 100 | Several hundred | Several thousand | Tens of thousands |
Participation in clinical trials allows patients to receive cutting-edge treatments that may not be available through standard care and clinical protocols. Clinical trials provide access to new drugs and treatments that can potentially improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Additionally, participating in clinical trials helps to advance medical knowledge and improve treatments for future patients.
The content above has been reviewed by our medical team. It is provided for reference only and cannot replace the opinion given by medical professionals.
Last reviewed on: 10 March 2021
Translated on: 20 April 2023