Discussion

Dr. Blackwell's survey provides a comprehensive consensus of current strategy in drug evaluation as it relates to the introduction of a new drug into man for the first time. The results provide a useful pattern for comparing what we are doing with the practices of others. Although the respondents were asked not to be influenced by present regulatory requirements, one can probably assume that the replies were significantly influenced by the current regulatory posture and, in all probability, by the circumstances in which thc investigator works and the strategy and approaches he is currently employing.