Should there be tighter controls on drug-trials?

[AB Asks]

The ongoing controversy involving Pfizer, Nigeria and improper trials for an anti-meningitis drug in 1996 has once again brought drug-trials into the news. Although testing drugs is necessary before they are made available to the general public there have been controversies in recent years. Should there be stricter regulations on trials? Or is it just a necessary but risky part of modern life?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/671914 1.stm

[Gromit]

I thought it was too good to be true. AB Ed posting a link.

Unfortunately that link is from 4 months ago on the 5 June 2007.

As long as the person taking the drugs knows it is part of a trial and is aware of the dangers, and sufficient supervision is on hand, then the valuable testing should be allowed.

Trials should conform to the laws in which countries they are used. The drug company claim they were compliant to Nigerian law in this case. It may be that the authorities in Nigeria need to strengthen their laws. The case last year in the UK which went wrong, was apparently lawful.

[kwicky]

For someone who has an incurable illness I would think that many would like to take part in trials to cure them. Waiting for the drug to finally come to market by the normal route is no use to them when they are pushing up the daises.

[China Doll]

Have you ever been involved with a drugs trial?!

Generally pretty bl00dy controlled and a bu99er to co-ordinate.