The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Clinical trials: 20 women taken ill

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Friday, Jun 17, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Clinical trials: 20 women taken ill

V. Raghavendra

Some of them complained of swollen joints and severe body pain

‘They could have been tested for efficacy of drugs, meant for curing breast cancer'
The women are said to have been paid nearly
Rs. 10,000 each, including travelling expenses

PIDUGURALLA (GUNTUR DT.): At least 20 women belonging to the Adarsh Nagar area have taken ill after undergoing clinical trials by a leading Hyderabad–based pharmaceutical company. Some of them who returned a couple of days ago started complaining of swollen joints, severe body pains and extreme weakness, which were attributed to the drugs administered to them.

Shocked

A few women who approached a local doctor to get themselves treated were shocked when told that they could have been tested for the efficacy of drugs, reportedly meant for curing breast cancer. The women are said to have been paid nearly Rs. 10,000 each, including travelling expenses.

According to information available, several women from the town went to Hyderabad in the last two months and were subjected to a battery of blood tests and were given injections that were believed to be the drugs being developed by the company, which has allegedly engaged middlemen to bring those offering themselves for the tests.

Majority of the residents of this locality are daily wagers working in limestone quarries and it is abject poverty that made them vulnerable to what happened so clandestinely over the last several months.

The women were given printed slips which contained details such as registration numbers, date(s) of study, result (of the trial) etc. but being illiterates they were totally unaware of the dangerous consequences of being administered drugs which are in the process of clinical evaluation.

Probe ordered

Speaking to The Hindu, District Medical & Health Officer M. Gopi Naik said he ordered an inquiry into the incident and steps were taken to give them further treatment in government hospitals depending on their condition.

For the time being, there is no danger to life. Medical help has been rushed to the victims.

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