UPDATE: Parexel Destroys Immune Systems, Avoids Liability
You may recall the test subjects of drug trial TGN1412 who were left seriously maimed moments after taking the experimental drug.
As if it weren't enough that they swelled up horribly, tore at their flesh, and had to have their toes amputated, recent tests show they have no detectable T-cells.
Without toes, you can't walk. Without T-cells, the victims are susceptible to a variety of auto-immune diseases where the body attacks itself.
This is the very condition that the drug was designed to treat.
Having paid a nominal sum to the victims, Parexel denies further liability. Some of the patients are suing, but they may not live to see their legal effort's fruition.
Renewed ordeal of the Elephant Men The Sunday Times. (Thanks to Francis!)
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Comments:
Makes you wonder if all these drug trials are done by shell companies, with the sole intent, that if the trial does goto crap then the shell takes the brunt of it (As in this case).
Why people do this is soooooooooooo beyond me.
Why the hell would you do a drug trial?
WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?
(Exception: You have a terminal disease and you want to take a shot at a cure; different animal altogether)
@Vinny: Well, there's a middle ground in there. Friend of mine was diagnosed as having leukemia but for some reason he was asymptomatic. By the time he was diagnosed it was fairly advanced.
Instead of having a 95% chance, his odds were down to 85%. But, there was a new treatment that was showing promise in trials that could boost the odds a bit. So his choice was take the lower (but still good) odds with traditional tratment, or better his odds with something experimental.
Tough choice, and in this case not a good one. He took the experimental treatment, had a stroke the next day, and died2 days after that.
Anyway, yeah, taking experimental meds for quick cash is not such a hot idea.
Unfortunatly though, someone has to do it....
Sounds like a great biological weapon, not such a good cure.
Wow, that's the definition of a major bummer. It seems that the drug was manufactured with an eye towards shielding the manufacturer from liability, which should be a crime in and of itself.
How in the hell did this drug make it to human trials?
(As for that picture, someone should tell her about Head On, which I understand you apply directly to the forehead.)