PHA-Exch> New Wemos publication on unethical clinical drug trials: A Bitter Pill

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: leontien.laterveer at wemos.nl leontien.laterveer at wemos.nl

'The West has such a voracious appetite for new and improved drugs that it
sometimes seems justified to make these available at any cost,' says Dr.
Heleen Dupuis, Professor of Medical Ethics and member of the Dutch Upper
Chamber of the States General in A Bitter Pill, the new Wemos publication on
clinical drug trials in developing countries.

In A Bitter Pill, Wemos describes the risks involved when carrying out
clinical drug trials on the inhabitants of developing countries, and puts
forward concrete proposals for the improved protection of these vulnerable
test subjects. Core of Wemos's plea is the call for 'fair' medicines, drugs
which have been ethically tested. Unethically tested medicines should not be
admitted to the European market, according to Wemos.

In the booklet, experts give their opinion. Among them is Dr. Amar Jesani,
coordinator of the Indian Centre for Studies in Ethics and Rights: 'Many
doctors in India involved in clinical trials are given enormous sums of
money in return for recruiting patients. This leads to a conflict of
interests, of which the patients are the victims. When they find they need
medical attention, the financial obstacles they encounter tempt them to
close their eyes to the possible risks of clinical trials.' Also discussed
is the Pfizer-trial, during which Nigerian children received the
experimental antibiotic Trovan.

In February, a coalition of five organizations including Wemos, the Centre
for Research on Multinational Cooperations (SOMO), Foundation Farmacie
Mondiaal, Health Action International (HAI) Europe and the European Medical
Students' Association (EMSA) presented A Bitter Pill, along with a new
report by SOMO called Ethics for Drug Testing, to Members of the European
Parliament (MEPs). The coalition called on the politicians to put a stop to
'unfair' drugs. Following the presentation, thirteen MEPs signed questions
to the European Commission. The answers are expected early April.

Copies of A Bitter Pill can be downloaded and ordered from www.wemos.nl (a
postage contribution is appreciated). For more information, please go to
www.wemos.nl (English, see 'Overview: Unethical testing') or contact
Leontien Laterveer (leontien.laterveer at wemos.nl).
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