Purpose of Phase II trials
Phase II clinical trials test a new drug’s effectiveness (efficacy) and continue to evaluate safety in a larger group of patients with the target condition, usually 100-300 participants. These studies aim to identify the optimal dose, monitor common side effects, and confirm that the treatment produces the intended biological effect.
Trials often use randomised designs with control groups, placebo or standard-of-care, to provide robust evidence of therapeutic potential. They can be single-arm or blinded to reduce bias and typically last several months to a couple of years. Data from Phase II informs patient subgroup selection, dose refinement, and risk management strategies, guiding decisions on whether to progress to larger Phase III confirmatory studies.