How are trials and health check-ups conducted?

Clinical study and health check

A clinical study is conducted according to strict rules that are consistent worldwide. A new treatment is often compared with an older, well-known treatment. It can also be compared with a placebo, sometimes called a sugar pill, for example, in cases of diseases where no treatment currently exists.

To ensure that the effects of the new treatment are truly being measured, and not the effect of the research participant's expectations, many studies are conducted as double-blind trials. This means that neither the doctor, nurse, nor the research participant knows which treatment the individual is receiving.

After the study is completed, we always provide information about which treatment was given.

The trial is carefully planned and conducted according to a predetermined protocol, known as a trial plan, which has been reviewed and approved by both the Swedish Medical Products Agency and regional Ethical Review Boards. Many doctors across the country often collaborate on the same trial, and clinical trials are frequently international, taking place in several countries simultaneously. 

Healthy volunteers

In the early stages of developing a new treatment, trials are conducted on a small number of participants, often healthy volunteers, for a short period. The trial can last from a single day to several months, often requiring multiple visits to our clinic. During your first visit, you will receive verbal and written information from a nurse and a doctor.

See our ongoing studies for healthy individuals here.

Patients

As more is learned about a treatment's effects and side effects, the trial can expand, eventually involving hundreds, sometimes thousands, of patients, who are treated for as long as their condition requires. Trials can last from a few weeks, for example, for urinary tract infections, to a year or more, for conditions like high blood pressure or other chronic ailments. 

See our ongoing studies for patients here.

Health Check-up

In our early-phase studies, the first visit always involves a health check-up. This is an important part of the process to ensure all participants are healthy and suitable for the study. During the health check-up, participants undergo various medical examinations, which may include blood tests, ECG, blood pressure measurement, and other relevant tests.

We also ensure that all participants receive information about the study, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns with the study staff.

Please watch the video to see how a health check-up is conducted and gain a better understanding of the steps and procedures involved in a clinical study.