Drug trial goes wrong: 'It was like a scene from hell'

Six healthy young men turn into wailing wrecks within minutes. First they began tearing their shirts off complaining of fever, then some screamed out that their heads felt like they were about to explode. After that they started fainting, vomiting and writhing around in their beds.

The patients’ blood was being filtered every HOUR in a bid to remove any possible toxins.

The six affected were among eight volunteers taking part in clinical trials for the American Parexel research company. Two were given placebos for comparison purposes. The others were injected with a new drug called TGN 1412, being tested for German firm TeGenero.

Lawyers have been instructed on behalf of at least one of the victims. All six remained in care at Northwick Park Hospital, northwest London. Two were said to be in critical condition and the other four were serious, but showing signs of improvement. Relatives met doctors and staff from the two companies involved — the German biotech company, TeGenero, and Parexel, the contract company that was conducting the trial.

In related news, eleven patients have died while taking Alzheimer's disease drug Aricept during a clinical trial, Japan's Eisai Co., which makes the medicine, said on Thursday.