Introduction to Clinical Trials BT - Fundamentals of Clinical Trials

Abstract

The evolution of the modern clinical trial dates back at least to the eighteenth century [1, 2]. Lind, in his classical study on board the Salisbury, evaluated six treatments for scurvy in 12 patients. One of the two who was given oranges and lemons recovered quickly and was fit for duty after 6 days. The second was the best recovered of the others and was assigned the role of nurse to the remaining ten patients. Several other comparative studies were also conducted in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The comparison groups comprised literature controls, other historical controls, and concurrent controls [2].