Types of

Clinical Trials

If you look for clinical trials, you will find a lot of different types. In this section we want to tell you about the most common ones. It’s important to note that a clinical trial can have more than one of these characteristics.

Open label / Blinded Clinical Trial:

An open clinical trial is when both the patient and the investigator know what treatment the patient is taking. However, a blinded clinical trial is when neither the patient nor the investigator knows what treatment the patient is taking. The aim of blinding is to avoid possible bias in the trial.

Multicenter /Single center Clinical Trial

Clinical trials carried out in one single cite are called single center clinical trials and are typically Phase I trials. Multicenter clinical trials are those carried out in various sites. These are typically Phase II and III trials.

Randomized Clinical Trial:

In a randomized clinical trial, there are at least two treatment options available during the trial. Patients are randomly allocated to one treatment or the other. The aim of randomizing is to avoid possible bias in the trial.

Controlled Clinical Trial:

In a controlled clinical trial, the drug being tested is compared to either a placebo, or the standard treatment used for that disease or indication at the time. In these clinical trials, patients will take either the study drug, or the comparator (placebo / standard treatment).

Cross-over Clinical Trial:

A cross-over trial is a specific type of controlled clinical trial, where the drug being tested in compared to either a placebo, or the standard treatment used for that disease or indication at the time. However, in this trial, each participant will receive a different treatment option at different times throughout the trial, so that by the end of the trial, they will have taken all the possible treatment options of the trial.

Observational Clinical Trial:

In an observational clinical trial, the investigator does not intervene, as the aim is to observe what happens in real life. This type of clinical trial is usually used for statistical and demographic reasons.

Bioequivalence Clinical Trial:

During a bioequivalence study, participants will receive one of two treatment options (the study drug or the standard treatment option). The aim of this study is to prove that the study drug is equivalent to the standard treatment option.