French drug trial leaves 1 brain-dead, 5 hospitalised

One person is brain-dead and five others were hospitalised after taking part in a drug trial in France. According to the Minster for Health, Marisol Touraine, the six had been taking part in a trial for an oral medication when a “serious accident “took place.

French Health Minister Marisol Touraine Reuters/Stephane Mahe

The minister did not say what drug was being tested, nor what it was intended for

In all, eight people were involved in the trial.

The trials were part of a Phase I clinical trial in which the healthy volunteers took the medication to "evaluate the safety of its use, tolerance and pharmacological profile of the molecule."

Earlier reports that the drug being tested is cannabis-based were later found to be untrue

The trial was being carried out in the northern city of Rennes at the behest of a Portuguese laboratory.

A statement from the Minister said that the laboratory in question had informed the French drugs watch-dog (ANSM) that they had halted the trial.

The laboratory has also been in contact with all those participating in the trial.

The Minister also said that she had asked for an investigation to be carried out into the circumstances of the laboratory tests and the company carrying them out.