The government must retract its invitation to global pharmaceutical firms to make clinical trials of their products in Malaysia, said the Consumers of Association of Penang (CAP).

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis ( left ) when addressing a seminar in US earlier this week had extended the invitation to these companies.

In a statement yesterday, CAP president SM Mohamed Idris said in 2001, the Nigerian government withdrew the trading licence of a well-known multinational drug company after a Washington Post report said the company used Nigerians as guinea pigs to test a new drug.

There is currently a lawsuit pending in the US against this company, he added.

Recounting the details, he said a meningitis epidemic struck children in Nigeria in1996 resulting in 15,000 deaths. During this period, the company tested a new antibiotic on the children.

The experiment, according to the report, was allegedly carried out in a hurried manner and without following procedures.

"The experiment raised queries and also outrage on how multinational drug companies tests drugs in third world countries without following safety rules.

"There have been renewed calls on the international community to ensure that participants in clinical trials receive protection," said Mohamed Idris.

No governing laws

The CAP president ( bottom left ) also cited another 'tragedy' in a London hospital last year where six human guinea pigs suffered multiple organ failure hours after taking a new experimental drug. Two of them are still in critical condition.

The volunteers were given the smallest possible dose of TGN 1412, an anti-inflammatory medicine made by a German pharmaceutical company.

In view of these incidents, Mohamed Idris said the government must reconsider its invitation to the pharmaceutical companies.

Furthermore, he noted that Malaysia does not have laws to govern clinical trials.

"There is a 'good clinical practice guidelines' manual that was produced following the great demand by the pharmaceutical industry to conduct clinical trials in Malaysia.

"In the wake of untoward incidents, in which unethical tactics are employed to conduct drug experiments there should be a ban of clinical trials in Malaysia," he said.