What type of study is primarily conducted in Phase 1 testing?

Phase 1 testing mainly involves an open-label study. The primary goal of Phase 1 trials is to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of a drug or treatment in a small group of healthy participants or, in some cases, individuals with a specific disease. In this phase, researchers closely monitor the participants to observe how the drug behaves in the body, its side effects, and how it is metabolized.

An open-label study is particularly suited for Phase 1 trials because it allows both the researchers and participants to be aware of the treatment being administered. This transparency is crucial for collecting accurate safety and efficacy data without the added complexity of blinding, which might obscure the initial observations.

While double-blind studies are typically employed in later phases to avoid bias, they are not the focus in Phase 1, where understanding the drug's fundamental characteristics is paramount. The other types of studies listed, such as prevention and case-control studies, are not standard in Phase 1 trials and are used for different research purposes and phases of clinical investigation.