experimental drug
Definition
A pharmaceutical substance undergoing clinical trials to evaluate its safety, efficacy, dosage, and potential side effects before regulatory approval.
A medication administered outside standard approved treatments, often in research settings or under compassionate use programs for patients with unmet medical needs.
An investigational new drug (IND) that has passed preliminary lab and animal testing and is being tested on humans in controlled phases.
Examples
The experimental drug turned the sleepy lab rat into a marathon runner overnight, much to the researchers' caffeinated delight.
Volunteers for the experimental drug trial were promised fame and fortune, but mostly got free snacks and mild superpowers in their dreams.
Big Pharma's latest experimental drug claims to cure Monday blues, though side effects include spontaneous interpretive dance.
After one dose of the experimental drug, he could taste colors – purple was disappointingly like expired yogurt.