Drug trials to medical negligence compensation trialsA shocking case reached the headlines in March 2006 when six men were taken seriously ill after taking part in a drugs trial. The tragic aftermath left some seeking medical negligence compensation.
The trials, which resulted in devastating personal injuries within hours, took place at Northwick Park Hospital, north-west London. They were arranged by Parexel on behalf of TeGenero, a German pharmaceutical company.
This was phase one of the clinical trial, the aim of which is to test the safety of dosage and identify side effects.
Two of the men were left critically ill and the other four in serious conditions after they all suffered a violent reaction to TGN1412, a new monoclonal antibody drug being developed to treat chronic inflammatory conditions and leukaemia.
One participant suffered multiple organ failure and was left facing the fact that he may not be able to fight off serious illnesses in the future.
This particular trialist's personal injury solicitor commented on the situation confronting his client and the other participants by saying, "The reality is that they're going to have to face the most terrible future prospect of the most serious cancers happening at any time, the prospect of serious diseases, the most terrible, terrible time."
In their defence, TeGenero insisted, "We are devastated at these shocking developments which we were not anticipating." They also affirmed that no signs of problems had been revealed in earlier tests.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) stated that they would look into whether the reaction could be a result of a manufacturing problem, contamination or simply the wrong dose being administered.