Compassionate use programmes enable people with life-threatening, long-lasting or seriously disabling illnesses to use drugs that have not yet been authorised. This is usually only for drugs that are near to drug approval, especially for people who would be excluded from research studies.
This is similar to, and sometimes called, a named-patient programme.
Information on compassionate access in the EU.
macrophage – large white blood cell that engulfs or ‘eats’ infectious organisms and waste material from dead cells.
mL (millilitre) – a measure of a volume of liquid. 1000 millititres = 1 litre.
cross-over study – where patients in a study ‘roll-over’ to a second related study. For example, this can be after a fixed period in a study (ie after 48 weeks) or after another event (for example, not having a treatment response).
buprenorphine – strong pain-killer useful for treating heroin addiction. See also methadone.