Clinical pharmacological evaluation in drug control.

The production and use of potent drugs have increased greatly in all parts of the world during the last few decades and it is more important than ever that they should be used to the best advantage without unnecessary risk to the patient. Effective control of the efficacy, safety, and pharmaceutical quality of all drugs is required, and information on their characteristics should be available to all users. To give experts an opportunity to assess the value of clinical pharmacology and to discuss the extent to which it is applied, WHO and the health authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany sponsored a symposium on the subject in Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany, from 27 to 30 November 1972. The secretary of the symposium, Dr. H. Friebel2, describes some of its findings below.