Drug trial victims will likely die of cancer, investigation concludes

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Drug trial victims will likely die of cancer, investigation concludes

Posted Monday, July 31, 2006 by NewsTarget, Key concepts: cancer, TGN1412 and dangerous drugs. Printable article Permalink: http://www.NewsTarget.com/019818.html

(NewsTarget) An independent study of the six victims of the TGN1412 drug trial has found that the men will likely die of cancer. The London drug trial resulted in the hospitalization and near-death of six volunteers in March of this year.

Professor of Nottingham University says that the drug -- originally meant to treat autoimmune disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and leukemia -- actually encouraged cancer and other autoimmune disorders in the six men.

"They face a lifetime of contracting cancers and all the various autoimmune diseases from lupus to MS, from rheumatoid arthritis to ME," says , who says one of the patients is already experiencing "definite early signs that a lymphoid malignancy is developing."

One of the victims, 24-year-old Nav Modi, says, "It's a really bizarre feeling when you discover that you might be dead in a couple of years or even in a couple of months. I feel like I've given my life away for 2,000 pounds."

The six men agreed to the drug trial in exchange for 2,000 pounds ($3,700 U.S.). They were assured by researchers from Parexel -- the American drug firm administering the tests -- that there would be no serious side effects. Mere minutes after being injected with the drug, all six men suffered reactions ranging from severe swelling and gangrene to heart and kidney failure.

The German company that manufactured TGN1412, TeGenero, has filed for bankruptcy, citing negative publicity over the London drug trials, which resulted in one man having all his toes and three of his fingers amputated. The trial disaster has also led to calls for closer government regulation of the drug trial process.