clinical trial

noun

: a scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapeutic agent (such as a drug or vaccine) using consenting human subjects

Examples of clinical trial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

UniQure — The biotech firm's stock soared nearly 9% after a clinical trial found the company's experimental gene therapy for Huntington's slowed the progress of the neurodegenerative disease. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025

Peltz, who published the findings 14 September in the journal Advanced Science, hopes the results will pave the way for a clinical trial of one standout candidate, the cancer drug vorinostat, in patients with liver fibrosis. —Elie Dolgin, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Sep. 2025

Outside researchers say the findings are promising, but stress the need for larger, multi-center clinical trials with longer follow-up periods. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2025

Lenacapavir’s cost put the injection out of reach even for South African women who took part in its clinical trials. —Ashleigh Furlong, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clinical trial

• sensorial
• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• vial
• supervisorial

Medical Definition

clinical trial

noun

: a scientifically controlled study of the safety and effectiveness of a therapeutic agent (as a drug or vaccine) using consenting human subjects