IND (Investigational New Drug)

An Investigational New Drug (IND) is a designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing a pharmaceutical company to test a new drug on humans. Before this approval, the drug has usually been tested in laboratories and on animals. The IND application includes data on the drug’s safety, how it works, and the proposed research plan. This process is crucial for ensuring that new treatments are safe and effective before they can be widely prescribed or sold. It represents the first step in bringing new medications to patients.