[The elderly healthy volunteer: a necessity]

Phase I and II clinical studies performed in healthy elderly volunteers appear as a necessity in the design of any drug development. This is particularly true for drugs which will be indicated in age-related disorders. The essential aim is to obtain a maximum of results on kinetics, dosage and tolerance in this target population. Difficulties and specificities of these studies will be developed. This issue will contribute to improve the quality of Phase III studies and appears as a money-saving strategy.