What is the purpose of Phase 2 clinical trials?

Phase 2 clinical trials serve as a critical stage in the development of new drugs. Following the initial safety assessments conducted in Phase 1, these studies typically involve a larger group of participants, usually ranging from 50 to 150 subjects.1

The primary purpose of a Phase 2 trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention for a specific, well-defined medical condition. During this phase, researchers carefully assess the drug's therapeutic benefit in relation to any side effects experienced by the participants. If the results demonstrate that the treatment shows promise, the drug may then proceed to Phase 3, where it is directly compared against standard treatment approaches or a placebo to confirm its efficacy and safety on a larger scale.1