No issue in NZ in taking study drug tests

Media release - March 23, 2006

No issue in NZ in taking study drug tests

The Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust (CCST) will not be making any further comment following news reports of volunteers collapsing in a phase one drug trial in London.

The trust said in a statement today it was unable to comment on the recent Northwick Park Hospital case in Britain.

The Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust is the only organisation conducting Phase I trials in New Zealand and has completed more than 60 trials since it was set up by Dr Richard Robson in 1999. Dr Robson is overseas and unable to comment until his return.

The CCST runs a 20 bed inpatient clinical research unit in Christchurch and focuses on the early testing of new drugs on both healthy volunteers and patient groups.

Since its inception the trust has successfully worked with more than 2000 volunteers.

``NZ has an excellent track record in the approval of clinical trials and the CCST has every confidence in the regulatory and ethical review processes to protect volunteers participating in clinical trials,’’ the trust said in a statement today.

No major life threatening event has been reported in any NZ trial as a result of taking a study drug.

ENDS

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