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HEALTH NEWS

'Elephant Man Drug Trial' Victim Showing Signs of Cancer

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Written by Rita Jenkins|  06 August, 2006  15:41 GMT

drug trial cancer TGN
One of the six men who fell ill after participating in a drug trial in London in March has revealed he now exhibits early signs of an aggressive form of cancer.
One of the participants in a clinical drug trial that went seriously awry earlier this year, 35-year-old David Oakley, now reportedly has early signs of an aggressive form of lymph cancer.

The disastrous test, carried out on March 13, 2006, was dubbed the "Elephant Man drug trial" after all six men who received the trial drug became critically ill with severe swelling and organ failure.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Oakley said he has been warned that he also might develop multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome or other serious illnesses as a result of his experience.

He called the discovery of the cancer signs "devastating." He told the paper he is living from day to day and hoping that when the cancer comes, it will be treatable.

The other five men have also been advised they are vulnerable to cancers and other potentially fatal diseases.

Oakley, a driving instructor, said he signed up for the drug trial to earn the 2,000 pounds ($3,815) offered as compensation in order to pay for his wedding. He and wife Katrina, 29, were married in June. The couple have postponed their plans to start a family.

Parexel conducted the trial of TGN 1412 on behalf of Germany-based firm TeGenero. The drug was being investigated as a possible treatment for leukemia and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Eight men -- all young and healthy -- participated. Six received the drug, while the other two were given a placebo. The doses were administered about two minutes apart.

Approximately five minutes after the last participant received his shot, the one who was injected first came down with a massive headache, fever and body pain. He said he felt he was burning. Soon thereafter, the other five men who had been given the drug also became ill, vomiting and suffering severe pain. All six collapsed within 12 hours.

TeGenero has apologized to the families involved but said the reactions were completely unexpected and that all safety protocols had been adhered to. TGN1412 had not been given to humans prior to the March trial; however, the drug previously had been tested on non-human primates with no sign of any safety concerns.

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