US intervenes in Pfizer trial
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United States Government has intervened in the criminal trial of one of its leading pharmaceutical giants, Pfizer by the Federal Government over alleged illegal drug test, which claimed lives in Kano in 1996.
The US is asking that the matter be resolved amicably outside court, giving support to Pfizer’s earlier push to wriggle out of the allegation.
Federal Government lawyer, Maryam Uwais disclosed this development Monday shortly after Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court adjourned to hear the joinder request of over 50 victims of the test in Kano.
“US government has intervened and asked that it be settled … but we will settle on our own terms.”
She explained that the parties have however not reached any terms, as Pfizer’s position was not acceptable to the government.
Uwais further explained that the move for an out of court settlement was at the instance of Pfizer stressing, “you cannot carry out a clinical test without authorisation.”
In view of the intervention, Uwais explained that already, the American drug company had been meeting with the Federal Government team led by the attorney general of the federation, Michael Aondoakaa on the possible way to compensate the victims of the trial adequately.
However, Business Day gathered that Pfizer did not want to accept responsibility for the consequences of the test.
While Uwais argued that the damage done to victims and the country could not be quantified, Pfizer’s lawyer, Anthony Idigbe said that the company would not accept responsibility for the consequences of the test.
Idigbe however assured that Pfizer would partner with Federal Government to resolve the matter since it was committed to the country.
“I think, the parties would like the matter resolved … our company is committed to Nigeria and Africa”
Over 50 Victims of the 1996 drug test allegedly conducted by American pharmaceutical company through their lawyer Kunle Ishola sought to be joined yesterday.
Even as Victims insisted that they were necessary parties, Uwais who indicated that the number did not represent all the victims however assured that the Federal government would given them adequate representation in the suit in which Pfizer is seeking to quash the Nasid Abdulsalmi report of 2001 which indicted it of illegal drug test.
Justice Chikere therefore adjourned the case to May 25 to enable victims settle issue of representation over joinder.
Plaintiff’s legal action was triggered of by the realization that the victims of the said Pfizer “illegal “ test actually suffered from deafness, paralysis , brain damage , muteness , loss of sight and slurred speech , the problems it battled to solve.
Plaintiff was disturbed that , Pfizer “ did create , experiment and brought to the market its product, Trovafloxacin Mesylate “ which it branded “Trovan” and administered to kids that were receiving medical attention at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) during the epidemic .It maintained that between 150.000 and 200,000 patients were affected .
AGF in the suit filed through Babatunde Irukera averred that while Pfizer failed to disclose its intension to experiment on the vulnerable victims and conducted the clinical trial on the kids without authorization of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Federal government therefore demanded for N690 billion damages from Pfizer for carrying out “ illegal “experiments on kids suffering from meningitis, measles and cholera in Northern Nigeria about 12 years ago .
In the suit brought against Pfizer International Incorporated and nine others, plaintiff alleged that defendants devised a scheme under which they carried out the illegal act under the guise of rendering humanitarian medical assistance to the victims in the wake of the ravaging epidemic.
Earlier joined as defendants with the company include; Pfizer Nigeria Limited, William Steere, Samuel Ohuabunwa, A. Dogunro, Isa Dutse, Scott Hopkins, Mike Dunne, Debra Willaims and Robert Buhl (some of whom are associates and medical doctors employed by the company)
The US is asking that the matter be resolved amicably outside court, giving support to Pfizer’s earlier push to wriggle out of the allegation.
Federal Government lawyer, Maryam Uwais disclosed this development Monday shortly after Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Abuja Federal High Court adjourned to hear the joinder request of over 50 victims of the test in Kano.
“US government has intervened and asked that it be settled … but we will settle on our own terms.”
She explained that the parties have however not reached any terms, as Pfizer’s position was not acceptable to the government.
Uwais further explained that the move for an out of court settlement was at the instance of Pfizer stressing, “you cannot carry out a clinical test without authorisation.”
In view of the intervention, Uwais explained that already, the American drug company had been meeting with the Federal Government team led by the attorney general of the federation, Michael Aondoakaa on the possible way to compensate the victims of the trial adequately.
However, Business Day gathered that Pfizer did not want to accept responsibility for the consequences of the test.
While Uwais argued that the damage done to victims and the country could not be quantified, Pfizer’s lawyer, Anthony Idigbe said that the company would not accept responsibility for the consequences of the test.
Idigbe however assured that Pfizer would partner with Federal Government to resolve the matter since it was committed to the country.
“I think, the parties would like the matter resolved … our company is committed to Nigeria and Africa”
Over 50 Victims of the 1996 drug test allegedly conducted by American pharmaceutical company through their lawyer Kunle Ishola sought to be joined yesterday.
Even as Victims insisted that they were necessary parties, Uwais who indicated that the number did not represent all the victims however assured that the Federal government would given them adequate representation in the suit in which Pfizer is seeking to quash the Nasid Abdulsalmi report of 2001 which indicted it of illegal drug test.
Justice Chikere therefore adjourned the case to May 25 to enable victims settle issue of representation over joinder.
Plaintiff’s legal action was triggered of by the realization that the victims of the said Pfizer “illegal “ test actually suffered from deafness, paralysis , brain damage , muteness , loss of sight and slurred speech , the problems it battled to solve.
Plaintiff was disturbed that , Pfizer “ did create , experiment and brought to the market its product, Trovafloxacin Mesylate “ which it branded “Trovan” and administered to kids that were receiving medical attention at the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) during the epidemic .It maintained that between 150.000 and 200,000 patients were affected .
AGF in the suit filed through Babatunde Irukera averred that while Pfizer failed to disclose its intension to experiment on the vulnerable victims and conducted the clinical trial on the kids without authorization of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Federal government therefore demanded for N690 billion damages from Pfizer for carrying out “ illegal “experiments on kids suffering from meningitis, measles and cholera in Northern Nigeria about 12 years ago .
In the suit brought against Pfizer International Incorporated and nine others, plaintiff alleged that defendants devised a scheme under which they carried out the illegal act under the guise of rendering humanitarian medical assistance to the victims in the wake of the ravaging epidemic.
Earlier joined as defendants with the company include; Pfizer Nigeria Limited, William Steere, Samuel Ohuabunwa, A. Dogunro, Isa Dutse, Scott Hopkins, Mike Dunne, Debra Willaims and Robert Buhl (some of whom are associates and medical doctors employed by the company)
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