What is the focus of clinical trials in the Phase 1 trial stage?

The focus of Phase 1 clinical trials is primarily on assessing the safety and tolerability of a drug, which includes examining the possible side effects that may occur after administration. During this phase, a small group of healthy volunteers is typically involved, and the main objective is to determine the drug's pharmacokinetics (how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted) and pharmacodynamics (the effects of the drug on the body). This stage is critical for identifying any adverse reactions and establishing a safe dosage range before proceeding to larger trials that would focus on efficacy and effectiveness in patient populations.

While options that mention long-term market analysis, drug effectiveness on larger patient groups, and cost-effectiveness of drugs are important components of the drug development process, they pertain to later phases of clinical trials and marketing evaluations rather than the specific focus of Phase 1 trials.