New or “experimental” therapies to treat chronic or recurrent disease are generally inaccessible for several years due to the rigorous testing required by regulatory agencies before a new drug is approved. Often, access to these new therapies is only through participation in a clinical trial. Within a controlled study environment, the safety of the drug is monitored very closely and participants receive quality medical care and regular access to a physician.

In the case of drugs that are marketed, participation in a clinical trial provides access to the drug at no cost to the participant, as well as regular assessments by the study physician and careful monitoring of potential side effects and drug effectiveness.