NAPWA

A method based on chance by which study participants are assigned to a treatment group. Randomization minimizes the differences among groups by equally distributing people with particular characteristics among all the trial arms. The researchers do not know which treatment is better. From what is known at the time, any one of the treatments chosen could be of benefit to the participant

A clinical trialA clinical trial is a research study to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies or new ways of using known treatments. Clinical trials are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people. Trials are in four phases: Phase I tests a new drug or treatment in a small group; Phase II expands the study to a larger group of people; Phase III expands the study to an even larger group of people; and Phase IV takes place after the drug or treatment has been licensed and marketed. in which participants are randomly (i.e., by chance) assigned to one of two or more treatment arms of a clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. trial.

HIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistantHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant..

A type of anti-HIV drug which works by interfering with an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, that HIV needs to reproduce.

An antiviralA medication or substance which is active against one or more viruses. May include anti-HIV drugs, but these are more accurately termed antiretrovirals. drug which is effective against a range of virusesA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell. including herpes, the hepatitis C virus and several strains of influenza.