The Wize Research Evidence Level.
Every compound on Wize carries a letter. It describes how much human research exists — and nothing else.
The Wize Research Evidence Level does not determine whether something is safe, effective, or appropriate for medical use. It describes the type and amount of publicly available research reviewed by Wize.
The five levels.
Multiple substantial human studies and/or high-quality randomized trials, typically within a program large enough to characterize the compound's behaviour across populations.
More than one meaningful human study exists, including randomized work, but the evidence base is narrower or less complete than level A.
Early, small, observational, or otherwise limited human evidence. Signals exist, but they are not settled.
The research consists primarily of animal, cell, or laboratory studies. Human evidence is minimal or absent.
Evidence is extremely limited, theoretical, or unclear — including where no qualifying published research has been identified.
How a level is derived.
We rate the human research and the preclinical (animal) research behind a compound separately, from nothing (no qualifying published research identified) through to extensive. The level is then read off that pair of ratings by a fixed rule, so the same reviewed data always produces the same level:
| Reviewed ratings | Level |
|---|---|
| Extensive human research | A |
| Strong human research | B |
| Limited to moderate human research | C |
| Minimal human research, with substantial preclinical work | D |
| Minimal human research and little preclinical work | E |
Only the kind of research changes a level. Number of studies, journal, sample size, and design quality all matter — and they are recorded per study in the study library rather than collapsed into the letter.
What the levels do not mean.
- They are not a safety rating, and never a dosing guide.
- They are not a comparison of quality between compounds.
- They do not imply regulatory approval, or the absence of it.
- They do not turn an animal result into a human result — preclinical findings stay preclinical however consistent they look.
Questions.
Does a higher level mean a compound is better or safer?
No. The level describes the type and amount of publicly available research Wize has reviewed. It says nothing about effectiveness, safety, quality, or whether anything is appropriate for any use.
Why is a heavily-studied compound only level C?
Because the level is set by human research, not total research. A compound with a large animal literature but no human trials sits at level D, and one with only a few small human studies sits at level C even if the animal work is extensive.
Can a level change?
Yes, and it should. As human trials report, or as we review new publications, the underlying ratings change and the level is recalculated. The level is derived from the reviewed data, never set by hand.
Does level E mean nothing is known?
It means we have not identified qualifying published research, or what exists is theoretical or unclear. An absence of studies is uncertainty, not proof that an effect is absent.