Standard reporter talks of drug trial (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Standard reporter talks of drug trial

AS the six men who took part in the TGN 1421 drugs trial enter their second week in hospital, questions are being asked about what sort of person would have unknown drugs tested on their body. Reporter Jenni Silver spoke to Standard-newcomer Andy Woolfoot about why he chose to take part in several such tests himself.

AN impoverished student living in his home town of Leeds, Andy was looking for a way of making money to clear his debts and when he heard that there was good money to be made from taking part in drug trials he hardly hesitated.

"It was recommended to me by a friend of the family - a doctor - as a good way of getting extra cash, so I thought why not," he said.

Since then Andy has taken part in four tests for the Covance Clinical Research Unit, acting as a human guinea pig for new medicines to treat anaemia, hayfever and two conditions that he cannot now remember.

Not once did he feel he was taking part in an activity which could have put him in intensive care.

He said: "They give you a report before so you know exactly what the risks and possible side effects are and what the doctors are hoping to achieve."

Most of the tests he took part in involved visiting a clinic where doctors would administer injections followed by a short stay in the clinic for monitoring - much like the six men taking part in the now infamous trial in London.

Although the risks are made clear from the start all participants have to sign a contract which prevents them from suing if anything goes awry.

With medicines watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and the specialist crimes directorate of the Metropolitan Police both investigating what went so horribly wrong with the TGN 1421, Andy admitted he was shocked at how ill the men became last week.

He said: "Obviously I was concerned for the people involved but I wasn't worried about myself because I felt fine.

"The risks always seem to be minimal but clearly it went very wrong this time.

"The first time was three years ago, it was a five-day stop over at a clinic and five follow-up appointments as an outpatient.

"When you're in the clinic you're not allowed out or to have visitors. You just lie about and the doctors take your blood samples.

"It's easier than doing bar work or getting a part time job, although at the time I had both."

After revelations at the weekend that one of the test victims is believed to have earned up to £60,000 from taking part in multiple tests, Andy maintains he would do more drug trials in the future - despite the risks.

He said: "The problems with the TCN 1421 trial is that it could lead to tighter regulations for future tests and it will stop people taking part. If you haven't done one but were considering it and you've seen this you could now be having second thoughts.

"It is a good way of making money and if people don't do it there's no way of making sure drugs are safe. I can't see how people would object to it, people aren't forced into it, some can even make a career from it.

"Now that I have a full-time job I don't need to do them anymore but if I was still in Leeds I think I probably would."