Nigeria May End Pfizer DNA Test For Trovan Victims

In the latest show of mistrust for Pfizer, a Nigerian court agreed to hear a motion next month requesting Pfizer halt DNA tests used to determine compensation related to children who died or were deformed during the infamous Trovan clinical trial in 1996, Agence France Presse reports [EDITOR'S NOTE: This was updated since AFP originally reported the court already issued such an order].

The move comes after Pfizer was accused of unfairly insisting on conducting DNA tests, which would be used for identification purposes, on victims and their families. Lawyers for 192 families say it is unclear how the DNA samples will be confirmed and voiced suspicions that samples may be secretly switched, depriving victims of compensation.

A High Court in the Nigerian capital of Abuja decided that, unless a special board appointed by the drugmaker and the Kano state government to manage the payout fund “satisfies this court with genuine and incontrovertible facts as to why prayers (application) …should not be granted, this court will proceed in making the said orders” on June 29.

The 1996 Trovan study was conducted on about 200 children and took place during a meningitis epidemic that killed 12,000 children, but Nigerians claim Pfizer didn’t obtain proper regulatory approval for the trial and misled parents. The study allegedly left 11 children dead and the others were deformed.

Pfizer denied the charges and settled the bulk of litigation this summer by agreeing to pay $75 million to settle civil and criminal charges brought by the Kano State government in Nigeria, far less than the $9 billion sought by Nigerian officials. Of the $75 million, $35 million is earmarked for compensating victims.

UPDATE: A Pfizer spokesman sent us this statement: “We are pleased with the Court’s decision, which enables the collection of DNA samples from claimants to continue uninterrupted. Pfizer opposes any attempt to stop or slow down this process which will only delay the payment of claims to qualified participants.

“The fact that the Board of Trustees of the Healthcare/Meningitis Trust Fund has received approximately 550 claims arising from a study that had 200 participants validates the importance of all the procedures, including DNA collection, incorporated in the settlement agreement to ensure that the funds reach only those for whom they are intended. Moreover, participation in the claims process is voluntary and individuals may opt out for any reason.

“Under the settlement agreement, the Board – not Pfizer or the Kano State government – will make the final determinations on eligibility of the claimants and, if applicable, the level of financial support they will receive.”