19/04/2006

Drug trial victims offered £5,000

Six volunteers who participated in a drug trial which left them seriously ill have been offered interim payments of £5,000 if they agree not to sue.

Lawyers for four of the six men said that the manufacturer of the drug, TeGenero, had agreed to pay the men compensation on the condition that they accepted a “no-fault” procedure.

The men had participated in the trial, run by US firm Parexel, at Northwick Park Hospital in London. The drug, TGN 1412, which had been developed to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, leukaemia and multiple sclerosis, had never been tested on humans before.

The long-term effects on the health of the men is uncertain. It was reported at the weekend that the most seriously affected, 20-year-old Ryan Wilson, could lose some of his fingers and toes as a result of taking the drug.

It was also reported that TeGenero had only had £2 million insurance for the drug trial.

The volunteers had been paid £2,000 each to participate in the trial.

Martyn Day, the solicitor for the four men, said that the men would not accept the drug manufacturer's offer. He said that it was inappropriate for TeGenero to try to make his clients make such a decision at this stage, saying that it was too early.

A spokesperson for TeGenero said that the claims were still being processed and stressed that they were keen that the volunteers received appropriate compensation as soon as possible.

(KMcA)

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