Drug trial horror gave victim '4 months of hell'

Jun 28 2006

One of the six volunteers who were left critically ill when a drug trial went horribly wrong has spoken out about his ordeal.

He and five other volunteers were paid £2,000 to be given TGN1412, created by German pharmaceutical company TeGenero, by medical research company Parexel.

Ryan Wilson, a 20 year old trainee plumber was the worst affected and says he was aware that medical staff did not expect him to survive.

He has described his experience as "four months of hell" and says he is angry with the companies involved.

Wilson was the most seriously affected by injections of the drug TGN1412 designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and leukaemia.

He is still in a wheelchair and is about to undergo surgery to have his toes and parts of three fingers amputated.

He will need months of physiotherapy to learn to walk again following the amputations.

The heads and bodies of the six immediately became swollen following injections of TGN1412 in March.

Mr. Wilson regards himself to be a strong man and is very determined to survive his ordeal even though doctors have told him they are still unsure of the long-term damage that has been caused.

Mr Wilson entered the trial that took place at Northwick Park Hospital to pay for driving lessons and a holiday.

He was the worst affected and suffered heart, liver and kidney failure, pneumonia, and septicaemia.

He believes his career as a plumber is now over and does not know what he will do, but remains optimistic about the future.

Two firms of solicitors are now negotiating compensation settlements on behalf of the six men.