Drug trial victims - How are they doing?

The incident in which 6 healthy men developed a severe immunological reaction after being given TGN1412, an experimental drug, more than 2 weeks back had created a major furore. I was looking for the latest news on their condition.

A report from 28th March says that two of the six men have been discharged. Three others remain as in-patients at Northwick Park Hospital, London. One man is still in a critical condition after being administered an experimental immune treatment more than two weeks ago.

The hospital has not given any futher information on the prognosis for the critically ill patient, but says that he has shown some signs of improvement. The released volunteers will continue to receive treatment and be monitored as out-patients.

The tragedy of the six human "guinea pigs", hopefully, should lead to more stringent controls on new drug trials.