The idea for a trial can come from people working in the NHS, research institutes, drug companies and other bodies such as charities. Mostly, such clinical trials are funded by industry, charities and government organisations.
Before treatments can be tested on humans, they will have already undergone extensive investigation in the laboratory and testing on animals. If the results from these studies are positive, the next step is to seek approval to begin trials in humans. Such approval has to be sought from the regulatory authority of the member state in which the trial is to be conducted
Once a drug has been through several stages of testing, which can take more than a decade, it can then be considered for licensing by the relevant governing bodies. When a licence application is submitted, the researchers would be required to provide all results from the trial, including both positive and negative.