Understanding Clinical Trial Terminology: What is an Open Label Clinical Trial?
Clinical trials are a key part of evaluating investigational treatments. People who volunteer to participate in clinical trials, along with investigators and study coordinators, are all key to a trial’s success. Often, clinical trials use a double-blind approach: study participants and researchers don’t know which treatment the patient is receiving.
Alternatively, sometimes, trials are conducted in an open-label fashion, meaning study participants and researchers both know which treatment the patient is receiving. Open-label trials can be used to compare treatments or gather additional information about the long-term effects in the intended patient population. In some instances, patients who complete one clinical trial may be eligible to continue in an open-label extension study where all participants are eligible to receive active treatment for an extended period of time.
As part of the development of new treatments for alopecia areata, companies are conducting several different types of trials to evaluate investigational treatments, including open label trials. Concert Pharmaceuticals is grateful for the volunteers involved in its trials.
To learn more about these open label studies, please visit clinicaltrials.gov:
