About Clinical Trials
Clinical trials allow researchers to gather information on a drug's dose, effectiveness and safety in humans. Their study protocol (written plan) is designed to answer key research questions by comparing results from the different treatment arms (groups) that include either the experimental drug, standard of care, standard of care plus placebo or their various combinations. These studies can be conducted by a single researcher in one hospital or clinic, or by many researchers at the national or international (global) level. Because clinical trial research involves both drugs and people, there are strict regulations in place to ensure the safety of participants.
Based on the specifics of your myeloma diagnosis, a clinical trial may be an option to consider. There are clinical trials that are designed for each phase of the disease. The medical team may recommend turning to new drugs or combinations of treatments that are only available through participation in clinical trials. Clinical trials may provide access to drugs or combinations of treatments that are not yet approved by Health Canada and are unavailable to patients, or that are approved by Health Canada but not covered by provincial governments.