Volunteer in Botched French Drug Trial Dies

Man in Biotrial clinical trial had been declared brain-dead
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 17, 2016 9:05 AM CST
Volunteer in Botched French Drug Trial Dies
French Health Minister Marisol Touraine and Professor Gilles Edan, chief neuroscientist at Rennes Hospital, address the media, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016.   (AP Photo/David Vincent)

A French hospital says a patient has died after taking part in an experimental drug trial, and five other participants remain hospitalized. The Rennes University Hospital said in a statement that the patient, who had already been in a state of brain death, died Sunday. The statement says the hospital has contacted the 84 other volunteers exposed to the new painkiller, based on a natural brain compound similar to the active ingredient in marijuana.

Ten of those volunteers underwent medical exams Saturday but the hospital found no anomalies, the statement says. French health authorities have said three of the hospitalized volunteers face possible brain damage. An investigation is underway into what happened. Click for more. (More clinical trials stories.)

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