Clinical trials in plain language

Phase 1 studies often ask about safety and pharmacokinetics in small groups. Phase 3 studies ask whether an intervention works for a defined outcome in a defined population. Skipping from a mouse paper to a phase 3 conclusion is a category error.

Randomized, blinded, adequately powered trials reduce certain biases. They still apply to the people who were enrolled, the dose that was used, and the time they were followed.