Before a new drug is tested on human subjects, the drug is tested on animals in a phase that is called __________ testing.

Before a new drug is tested on human subjects, the drug is tested on animals in a phase that is called __________ testing.

• A. clinical
• B. preclinical
• C. experimental
• D. in vitro

Answer: (B)

In drug development, the stage before testing in people is preclinical testing. This phase uses animals and laboratory studies to evaluate safety, how the drug behaves in the body (pharmacokinetics), how it affects biology (pharmacodynamics), and potential toxic effects. The results help determine safe starting doses for humans and whether the compound should move forward to clinical trials. This stage is distinct from clinical testing, which involves human subjects. In vitro work, by contrast, happens outside a living organism (like cell cultures) and is not the same as animal testing.

In drug development, the stage before testing in people is preclinical testing. This phase uses animals and laboratory studies to evaluate safety, how the drug behaves in the body (pharmacokinetics), how it affects biology (pharmacodynamics), and potential toxic effects. The results help determine safe starting doses for humans and whether the compound should move forward to clinical trials. This stage is distinct from clinical testing, which involves human subjects. In vitro work, by contrast, happens outside a living organism (like cell cultures) and is not the same as animal testing.