Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies. They may be used to answer questions about new ways of treating or preventing asthma attacks. Clinical trials may also be used to answer other questions about caring for people with asthma. Questions that a clinical trial may answer include:

• Does a drug prevent or treat asthma?
• Is a new test helpful in monitoring people with asthma?
• Does a drug cause problems when it is taken over a long period of time?

Find out about current asthma clinical trials.

Clinical trials are run by doctors and nurses who use a set of rules called a protocol. The protocol explains exactly how the trial will be run and who will enroll. To be in an asthma clinical trial:

• You must have the asthma or be at risk for it.
• You must be able to take the treatment that is being studied, if treatment is part of the study.
• You must be able to follow the study rules.

Before you enter the study, the medical team will make sure that you can take part. They may ask you questions about your health, give you a physical exam, and draw some blood or perform other medical tests.

There are laws that protect the rights of people in clinical trials. One of these laws requires study doctors and nurses to enroll patients only after they have given informed consent. This means that the study doctors and nurses must tell you everything that would affect whether or not you would want to be in the trial. Also, before you enter the trial, they must have your agreement in writing that you have been given this information and that you are willing to take part in the study.

After you enter the trial, you will need to attend regularly scheduled study visits. If you are taking a drug as part of the study, the doctor or nurse will check you for side effects and signs of whether the drug is working. Studies that do not involve drugs also require regular visits. Some studies can last several years.

If you decide that you no longer want to take a study treatment or take part in other study activities, you can stop at any time. Just be sure that your doctor knows about your decision. If a study treatment is not working for you or if it causes harmful side effects, your doctor will stop your treatment. If you stop a study treatment or taking part in other study activities, you will still be in the study, and you will be asked to keep attending your scheduled visits until the study ends. Of course, you are free to withdraw from the study at any time. If you get sick from taking a study drug, the people running the trial will make sure that you are able to get treatment if you need it.

If you are thinking about taking part in a clinical trial, you should not hesitate to ask your doctor or nurse questions. Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask:

• What are the side effects of the study drug?
• Are there any drugs, food, etc., that I should not take while I am taking the study drug?
• Has the study drug been used before?
• Will a placebo be used in the study?
• What other treatment choices do I have?
• How long will the study last?
• Will I be given travel money for this study?
• How will my part in the study be kept secret?
• Who will provide my medical care after the study is over?
• Who do I call if I have more questions?