It usually takes about 10 years for a drug to be developed and approved for prescription. Many people would like to take the newest medicine as soon as it is proven to work. However, even after a drug has been successful in a Phase III trial, it still may take 6 to 12 months before that drug is approved for prescription. Most hepatitis C clinical trials are paid for by the companies that make the drugs. The doctors and nurses will tell you who is paying for the study before you begin a trial.
Most clinical trials have eligibility criteria .
These are rules about who can participate, based on health, age, and maybe other things. They are designed to keep you safe, and to help you get the best results. If you do not meet these criteria, you will probably not be able to participate. If you do qualify for a trial and decide to participate, you should be willing to follow the guidelines of the study. Before you start a clinical trial, you should think about the positive and negative things that may happen.