DRUG TRIAL GOES HORRIBLY WRONG

[WA5KRP]

When a new drug is being developed, long before it is ever tried on human volunteers, it must go through rigorous testing for purity, stability, toxicity, morbidity and mortality, bio-transformation, and empirical therapeutic assessment in animals. #If the drug exhibits therapeutic efficacy with acceptable side effects in animals, it is then tested in human volunteers who are made aware of all possible risks.

Every now and then, something unpredictable happens. #A drug being tested for the first time in humans showed things can go VERY wrong. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2086563,00.html) #In this case, they were dealing with a drug that modifies the human immune system - ALWAYS DICEY. #It's entirely possible these young volunteers (college age) will die.

I bring this up to point out two things. #It's not easy to bring a new drug to the market and think twice before volunteering as a test subject. Personally, this incident makes me think somebody slipped them a different chemical from the one that had been tested in animals. Pure speculation on my part but it is possible and it makes sense.



WA5KRP
Texas

[wa4brl]

Bummer justice system they've got. The sentence is applied before the verdict. What kind of trial is that?

[wv6z]

This is a truly horrific thing and it’s sad that students and those desperate for money for one reason or another are enticed to risk their health or life to make a quick buck or quid and subject themselves to these things. They are truly unsung heroes because if they didn’t foolishly risk their all for the lure of money, how would testing on humans ever be performed? Big Brother might suggest a lottery for the unfortunates that are warehoused in correctional institutions for being pedophiles, murderers or drug dealers to relieve our tax burden I suppose. What a sad and horrible thing indeed.

[K9STH]

I have been involved in some drug testing programs. However, those that I have been involved with are the very last ones before the drug is made available for the general public. Frankly, it means that all of the lab rats and the federal prisoners have lived!

I don't know why a completely healthy person would "volunteer". However, when one suffers from a serious malady then that is a completely different matter. Since I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (NOT the osteo-arthritis that everyone has in some form or another - wearing out of the joints of the body) I do look for things that can help.

Basically I have been involved in 3 trials: The first concerned pain killers and that did some good. The second involved a particular Chinese herb treatment (it has been used in China for many years) and that did a lot of good (unfortunately after the study period is over you don't get any more until the drug comes onto the market). The third was a disaster, I suffered a terrific allergic reaction (I broke out in hives all over my body) and had to immediately stop taking the drug.

As can be seen, at least in my case, there are still hazzards in taking drugs even after they have been tested considerably. As for those involved in the very first trials I cannot see why a person who is not afflicted with the disease would even be considered as a test subject.

Glen, K9STH

[n2jso]

I spent two days in the hospital due to a reaction to a drug that's been on the market for years. I had been taking it for 18 months with nothing more than the expected mild side effects. One night, my pulse was high, I nearly fainted, was short of breath, pressure in the chest, hands and feet swelled up, and my skin felt like it was on fire - very scary!

A friend was paralyzed for a week after a bad reaction to an antibiotic that she had used many times before. Fortunately, she recovered completely.

All medications can be dangerous. Your body can suddenly decide to become allergic to something you've been exposed to for a long time. Also, interactions between medications can be very dangerous and unexpected.

I feel bad about the volunteers in the trial. I hope they make speedy recoveries. They took a big risk, one I don't think I would take. Somebody has to be the first to try a new drug, and I am grateful for those who are willing to do it.

-Ron, N2JSO

[WA5KRP]

Here is a follow-up report. (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8863-catastrophic-immune-response-may-have-caused-drug-trial-horror.html) Scary.



WA5KRP
Texas