Malaysians for Clinical Trials of New Drugs?

[tan_r]

From Bernama
Choose Malaysia For Clinical Trials, Says Dr Jamaludin
From Muin Abdul Majid

CHICAGO, April 10 (Bernama) -- The Bio Chicago 2006 international convention of the biotechnology industry opened here Sunday, with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis promoting Malaysia as a biotechnology destination, particularly as a place to conduct clinical trials for new drugs being developed by global pharmaceutical companies.

He also disclosed that a new act was being formulated to allow local scientists to benefit financially when their research findings were turned into marketable products via partnership with venture capitalists.

Making his case in front of an international audience at the McCormick Place Convention Centre here, he said companies were aware that clinical trials to check on the efficacy of a drug was a costly affair as it could take up as much as 60 per cent of the total cost of development that could go as high as US$1 billion.

"To bring down the cost of clinical trials, we feel that Malaysia is a suitable destination due to its multi-racial community, unlike some countries which have a homogenous population.

Read the rest here and my blog here.

[Firefly]

Well if I am dying of a uncurable disease....with say 3~6 months more to go, a trial or a "so call" cure, ok loh... Else forget it. Don't want to end up like the guy in the news yesterday. After taking a test drug went into a coma, now will have to have some of his toes and fingers removed as they are dead.

[ghj]

I dun think it is such a good idea, while well.. it may help the others to know whether that drug is efficient, but the person involved in the test may suffer *UNKNOWN* side effects. That person eyes may roll up and can't come down, suffer terrible headache, and as *Firefly* quoted, some may even end up into coma , and even unneccessary death..

Dun think it is that good, , imagine taking something and not knowing what will happen to you next @@.

I wonder how come Malaysia is deemed a "suitable" place for CLINICAL TRIAL..
with the reason that our country is multicultural..

i think that the other country is NOT fully "HOMEGENOUS" n there is some element of multicultural

[Firefly]

Life here is still cheap. can afford to give up a few.

[ghj]

Ethically not right, to use human as "test subjects"

[Firefly]

Ethically not right, to use human as "test subjects"

Then how else can you test a new drug/cure? After all the animal test, a few clinical trial must be conducted before a drug can be marketed. So human test subjects will be needed.

[ghj]

Then how else can you test a new drug/cure? After all the animal test, a few clinical trial must be conducted before a drug can be marketed. So human test subjects will be needed.

It can't be denied that it will benefit human-kind....
but if we were to put feet into that Test Subject shoes......

[patwon]

THE MINISTER did not know what he was talking about.the information he received was wrong and silly.It is not that simple to set up biotech industries as like set up and woe foreigners to set up factories in Malaysia. It need to take 5 to 10 years just to set up basic infrastructures and human skills.We need to benchmark and follow SINGAPORE whether you like it or not.We ,malaysians still have dignity and not allow to be use as experimental beings.Malu and feel very low.

[penangkia]

Aiya, like that orso you all don't get it. They are refering to those millions of technically non existant illegal immigrants in bolehland ma..
Die orso no issue, who is keeping count, right

Seriously, if the minister has actually said that ( multi racial thing) as a reason or incentive for conducting clinical trials here, and to an international audiance, he better have a good explanation when he returns home.

He is a Dr. so he may have reasons to say what he has said. Let wait and hear him out.

[cskok8]

Clinical trials have been going on for years. And yes you do need human "volunteers". In the UK it is usually the medical students who "volunteered". Of course they get paid for their troubles.

Drugs are tested on animals first to check their safety. Then they are given to healthy humans to see how much is needed to produce a certain blood level or effect and to reconfirm their safety. Then they are given to real patients. After all these datas are analysed can the drug company apply for approval to sell it to the general population.

[ghj]

We ,malaysians still have dignity and not allow to be use as experimental beings.Malu and feel very low.

That's why i say how come Malaysians is chosen? DUn think it is such a good idea