NZ man in drug trial blunder asked to do more trials

The New Zealander involved in a drug trial in Britain that severely affected him and five others is still getting asked to take part in other trials, his lawyer has said.

The six men suffered serious organ failure in the March trial, for which they were each paid £2000 ($6070).

A recent medical report said one of the men was showing early signs of lymphatic cancer and another faced the threat of losing toes and fingers to gangrene.

Others have been warned they face increased risk of contracting a range of diseases including cancer.

English lawyer Martyn Day is representing four of the men, including the New Zealander.

He said there were signs their health was heading in the same direction as that of the two most seriously affected trial participants, who he didn't represent.

"It's not just a risk, it's something that has already started to happen," he told National Radio this morning.

German biotechnology company TeGenero, which made the drug, filed for bankruptcy last month, saying on its website that it had failed to attract investment necessary to continue.

Mr Day said he had been trying to start mediation with the American company that ran the trial, Parexel International.

"We've been in touch with them to put the case to them ... to urge them to sit around the table with us and try and reach some sort of resolution to the case, otherwise it will have to go through the lengthy court process," Mr Day said.

In the meantime, Parexel was continuing to conduct drug trials and had been in touch with the New Zealander to press for him to attend further trials.

"Rather a sick joke it seems to me. But I can tell you what, I wasn't laughing," Mr Day said.

He said his clients were still angry about what they went through as they were told any side effects would probably be headaches and flu-like symptoms.

"So the idea that this was a novel drug on the cutting edge of science was never made explicit in any sort of way to these guys.

"A suggestion that they would risk their lives for £2000 - clearly our New Zealand client - as with the other three - would say that's pretty laughable."

- NZPA