Serious action against pharma companies on clinical trails

Karimnagar: The district police took up investigation on Monday following strict orders from Finance Minister Eatala Rajender to probe against the pharmaceutical companies that are conducting clinical trials on people of Jammikunta. Responding on the clinical trials, Commissioner of Police V B Kamalasan Reddy said a few youth to earn money fast were voluntarily joining pharmaceutical companies and were accepting to undergo clinical trials unaware of side-effects.

The CP stated that the persons must sign on a contract before accepting clinical trials. The companies will conduct the trials if only they are physically healthy. Also, the pharma companies have to explain the side-effects of the drugs that are used for clinical trials. The companies have to conduct clinical trials only three to four times on each person. But it was learnt during the investigation that each person is undergoing clinical trials nearly 10 to 30 times, informed the CP.

The post mortem report of Vangala Nagaraju, which was received from Forensic Lab, will be examined by Ethics Committee and then it will be submitted to Drug Control General of India (DCGO). In the investigation it has come to know the both Chiliveru Ashok and Boga Suresh, who lost memory (dementia) had undergone clinical trials nearly 30 times, Kamalasan Reddy said.

To prevent such clinical trials further in the district as per IPC Sec 337, cases will be lodged against the pharmaceutical companies by taking the suggestions from advocates. Necessary steps also will be taken to provide treatment to the persons, who were suffering from health issues, and the pharma companies will bear the expenses.

Additional DCP (Law and Order) P Sanjeev Kumar, Traffic Assistant Commissioner of Police T Krupakar and Jammikunta Inspector P Prashanth Reddy were present along with others.