Traditionally drugs were extracted from plants and Antibiotics have greatly reduced deaths

microorganisms Antibiotics and from infectious bacterial disease

Digitalis Aspirin Penicillin painkillers Antibiotics
Most new drugs are synthesised by chemists

Kill infective bacteria inside the cannot be

A painkiller and Discovered by body. Specific bacterial use to
Bacteria antibiotics e.g. penicillin
Extracted from anti- Alexander infections require specific
treat viral
in the pharmaceutical industry.

foxglove plants inflammatory Fleming from can antibiotics.

and used as a that was first the Penicillium mutate pathogens
heart drug found in willow mould and used
bark as an antibiotic Painkillers e.g. aspirin, Drugs that are used to treat the It is difficult to
Sometimes this makes and other paracetamol, symptoms of a disease. They develop drugs
them resistant to medicines ibuprofen do not kill pathogens to kill viruses
antibiotic drugs. without
harming body
AQA Vaccination tissues
Discovery because
Drugs have to be tested and trialled before and drug INFECTION Used to immunise a large proportion of viruses live
the population to prevent the spread of a and
to check they are safe and effective development AND reproduce
pathogen
RESPONSE inside cells
Efficacy Make sure the drug works
Check that the drug is not

the harmful disease and

population is prevented
suffer the symptoms of
Toxicity
New drugs are extensively tested for:

1st infection White blood cells detect pathogens in the

A person is unlikely to
poisonous
by vaccine. Antibodies are released into the

it’s spread in a
Small amount pathogen blood.

Vaccination
of dead or
inactive form
Preclinical trials - using cells, tissues and live animals - must Double blind trial: of the
pathogen Re-infection White blood cells detect pathogens.
be carried out before the drug can be tested on humans. patients and scientists do by the same Antibodies are made much faster and in
not know who receives pathogen larger amounts.
use healthy The
Clinical trialsDose most suitable
volunteers and amount to
patients the new drug or placebo
Created more side effects than expected (fatal in some cases) and are not as
take until the end of the trial. widely used as everybody hoped when first developed.
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 This avoids bias.
A placebo can look identical to the new
Monoclonal antibodies can be used in a variety of ways
Monoclonal antibodies

drug but contain no active ingredients

Healthy A small A larger A double Detecting Detecting
(Biology only HT)

volunteers blind trial will 1. A mouse is injected with Diagnosis Treatment

try small number number of occur. The pathogens molecules
of patients; pathogen
dose of patients different patients are
the drug divided into 2. Lymphocytes produce
to check it try the doses are groups. Some
drug at a trialled to antibodies Bound to
is safe will be given radioactive
record any low dose find the the drug and
to see if it optimum 3. Lymphocytes are removed from e.g. substance,
Monoclonal antibodies

side some a the mouse and fused with rapidly Fluorescent dye
works dose Identical pregnancy Can detect very toxic drug or
effects placebo. copies of dividing mouse tumour cells test – small quantities can be attached chemical
so it can be
one types measure of chemicals in seen inside cells Cancer cells
of 4. The new cells are called the level of the blood are targeted
or tissues
antibody hybridomas hormones to normal
produced body cells are
in unharmed
Specific to one binding site on the antigen. Can target laboratory
specific chemicals or cells in the body
5. The hybridomas divide rapidly
and release
better hope lotsfuture
– brighter of antibodies
which are then collected
 Antibiotics have greatly reduced deaths
Antibiotics and from infectious bacterial disease
Digitalis Aspirin Penicillin painkillers Antibiotics
Most new drugs are synthesised by chemists

Kill infective bacteria inside the cannot be

A painkiller and Discovered by body. Specific bacterial use to
Bacteria e.g. penicillin
Extracted from anti- Alexander infections require specific
treat viral
in the pharmaceutical industry.

foxglove plants inflammatory Fleming from can antibiotics.

and used as a that was first the Penicillium mutate pathogens
heart drug found in willow mould and used
bark as an antibiotic e.g. aspirin, Drugs that are used to treat the It is difficult to
Sometimes this makes paracetamol, symptoms of a disease. They develop drugs
them resistant to ibuprofen do not kill pathogens to kill viruses
antibiotic drugs. without
harming body
AQA Vaccination tissues
Discovery because
Drugs have to be tested and trialled before and drug INFECTION Used to immunise a large proportion of viruses live
the population to prevent the spread of a and
to check they are safe and effective development AND reproduce
pathogen
RESPONSE inside cells
Efficacy Make sure the drug works
Check that the drug is not

the harmful disease and

population is prevented
suffer the symptoms of
Toxicity 1st infection White blood cells detect pathogens in the

A person is unlikely to
poisonous
by vaccine. Antibodies are released into the

it’s spread in a
The most suitable amount to Small amount pathogen blood.
Dose of dead or
take
inactive form
Preclinical trials - using cells, tissues and live animals - must Double blind trial: of the
pathogen Re-infection White blood cells detect pathogens.
be carried out before the drug can be tested on humans. patients and scientists do by the same Antibodies are made much faster and in
not know who receives pathogen larger amounts.
Clinical trials use healthy volunteers and patients the new drug or placebo
Created more side effects than expected (fatal in some cases) and are not as
until the end of the trial. widely used as everybody hoped when first developed.
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 This avoids bias.
A placebo can look identical to the new
Monoclonal antibodies

drug but contain no active ingredients

Healthy A small A larger A double Detecting Detecting
(Biology only HT)

volunteers blind trial will 1. A mouse is injected with Diagnosis Treatment

number number of pathogens molecules
try small occur. The pathogen
of patients;
dose of patients different patients are
the drug divided into 2. Lymphocytes produce
to check it try the doses are groups. Some Bound to
drug at a trialled to antibodies
is safe will be given radioactive
record any low dose find the the drug and e.g. substance,
to see if it optimum 3. Lymphocytes are removed from Fluorescent dye
side some a Identical the mouse and fused with rapidly pregnancy Can detect very toxic drug or
works dose can be attached
effects placebo. copies of dividing mouse tumour cells test – small quantities so it can be chemical
one types measure of chemicals in Cancer cells
the level of the blood seen inside cells are targeted
of 4. The new cells are called or tissues
antibody hybridomas hormones to normal
produced body cells are
in unharmed
Specific to one binding site on the antigen. Can target laboratory
specific chemicals or cells in the body
5. The hybridomas divide rapidly
and release
better hope lotsfuture
– brighter of antibodies
which are then collected
 Antibiotics have greatly reduced deaths
Antibiotics and from infectious bacterial disease
painkillers Antibiotics
Most new drugs are synthesised by chemists

Kill infective bacteria inside the cannot be

A painkiller and Discovered by body. Specific bacterial use to
Bacteria infections require specific
Extracted from anti- Alexander treat viral
in the pharmaceutical industry.

foxglove plants inflammatory Fleming from can antibiotics.

and used as a that was first the Penicillium mutate pathogens
heart drug found in willow mould and used
bark as an antibiotic Drugs that are used to treat the It is difficult to
Sometimes this makes symptoms of a disease. They develop drugs
them resistant to do not kill pathogens to kill viruses
antibiotic drugs. without
harming body
AQA Vaccination tissues
Discovery because
Drugs have to be tested and trialled before and drug INFECTION Used to immunise a large proportion of viruses live
the population to prevent the spread of a and
to check they are safe and effective development AND reproduce
pathogen
RESPONSE inside cells
Make sure the drug works
Check that the drug is not

the harmful disease and

population is prevented
suffer the symptoms of
White blood cells detect pathogens in the

A person is unlikely to
poisonous
vaccine. Antibodies are released into the

it’s spread in a
The most suitable amount to blood.
take
White blood cells detect pathogens.
Preclinical trials - using cells, tissues and live animals - must Double blind trial: Antibodies are made much faster and in
be carried out before the drug can be tested on humans. patients and scientists do larger amounts.
not know who receives
Clinical trials use healthy volunteers and patients the new drug or placebo
Created more side effects than expected (fatal in some cases) and are not as
until the end of the trial. widely used as everybody hoped when first developed.
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 This avoids bias.
A placebo can look identical to the new
Monoclonal antibodies

drug but contain no active ingredients

Healthy A small A larger A double
(Biology only HT)

volunteers blind trial will 1. A mouse is injected with

try small number number of occur. The
of patients; pathogen
dose of patients different patients are
the drug divided into 2. Lymphocytes produce
to check it try the doses are groups. Some
drug at a trialled to antibodies Bound to
is safe will be given radioactive
record any low dose find the the drug and
to see if it optimum 3. Lymphocytes are removed from e.g. substance,
side some a the mouse and fused with rapidly Fluorescent dye
works dose pregnancy Can detect very toxic drug or
effects placebo. dividing mouse tumour cells test – small quantities can be attached chemical
so it can be
measure of chemicals in seen inside cells Cancer cells
4. The new cells are called the level of the blood are targeted
hybridomas hormones or tissues to normal
body cells are
5. The hybridomas divide rapidly unharmed
Specific to one binding site on the antigen. Can target and release lots of antibodies
specific chemicals or cells in the body which are then collected

better hope – brighter future

 Antibiotics have greatly reduced deaths
Antibiotics and from infectious bacterial disease
painkillers Antibiotics
Most new drugs are synthesised by chemists

cannot be
Bacteria use to
treat viral
in the pharmaceutical industry.

can
mutate pathogens

It is difficult to
Sometimes this makes develop drugs
them resistant to to kill viruses
antibiotic drugs. without
harming body
AQA Vaccination tissues
Discovery because
Drugs have to be tested and trialled before and drug INFECTION Used to immunise a large proportion of viruses live
the population to prevent the spread of a and
to check they are safe and effective development AND reproduce
pathogen
RESPONSE inside cells

the harmful disease and

population is prevented
suffer the symptoms of
A person is unlikely to

it’s spread in a
Preclinical trials - using cells, tissues and live animals - must Double blind trial:
be carried out before the drug can be tested on humans. patients and scientists do
not know who receives
Clinical trials use healthy volunteers and patients the new drug or placebo
Created more side effects than expected (fatal in some cases) and are not as
until the end of the trial. widely used as everybody hoped when first developed.
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 This avoids bias.
A placebo can look identical to the new
Monoclonal antibodies

drug but contain no active ingredients

(Biology only HT)

Specific to one binding site on the antigen. Can target

specific chemicals or cells in the body

better hope – brighter future