
The "Critical Path" is the scientific process through which a potential pharmaceutical, or medical device is transformed from a discovery into a medical product. Along the critical path, scientific tests and tools are used to predict whether a product candidate will be safe and effective, to assess how prototypes interact with the human body, and to guide the sponsor in choosing an appropriate dose and regimen or device size and/or placement. To bring a product to market successfully and efficiently, product sponsors need scientifically sound approaches.