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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
The company also plans to apply for a clinical trial for a human drug in the coming months.
—Caroline Haskins, TIME, 5 Sep. 2024
The team plans to begin a clinical trial next year to test the idea in people with end-stage liver disease.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 22 Aug. 2024
For one, pharmaceutical companies are legally required to conduct a clinical trial amongst children within five years of FDA approval.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 16 Aug. 2024
One prominent psychedelics company, Compass Pathways, is generally considered next in line for FDA approval of a psychedelic drug, with phase 3 clinical trials for its synthetic psilocybin well underway.
—Benjamin Y. Fong, Discover Magazine, 16 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clinical trial
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clinical trial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1946, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near clinical trial
Cite this Entry
“Clinical trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinical%20trial. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on clinical trial
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about clinical trial
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