What are the risks of participating in a clinical trial?

Potential risks may include side effects from the experimental treatment, some of which may not yet be fully known, as well as the time and possible travel required for study visits, uncertainty about whether the treatment will work, and the possibility of receiving a placebo in some trial designs.

All risks are explained to participants in advance as part of the informed consent process, and participants will have the chance to ask questions before deciding. Taking part is always voluntary, and participants are free to withdraw at any time, for any reason, without affecting their usual care.