Women protest Axis clinical trials at Miyapur
The six women demanded treatment for their illness
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-08-19 01:34 GMT
Hyderabad: Six women who were part of the clinical trials for the anti-cancer drug Exemestane tablets in 2011 protested outside Axis Clinicals Ltd at Miyapur on Tuesday claiming that they were suffering from side-effects in the form of damage to the kidney and constant muscle and joint pains. The six women demanded treatment for their illness.
These women came from Piduguralla of Guntur district on Monday morning and tried to meet the doctors who had treated them. When they were not allowed, they returned on Tuesday. When they were not allowed to meet, they held a dharna.
In 2011, these women underwent testing at the centre from January 27 to February 15, for bio-equivalence studies of Exemestane tablets. The testing was done without securing their informed consent.
At that time, the DCGI had suspended the company’s licence and barred it from conducting bio-availability and bio-equivalence studies at their Hyderabad centre. Dhanalaxmi, who along with five others came to the centre, said, “They had promised to take care of all our illness. At that time, they gave us Rs 7,000 per person and asked us to go. But now we are suffering and they are not willing to take care of us.”
Sheikh Jamila said, “We have only one ID proof that the research was done on us. But that is not acceptable to anyone. Even the government health officers are saying that it is not a valid proof.”
After a lot of protests, a senior manager of the company, Sreekar Reddy heard the women. He said, “There was an inquiry by DCGI and action was also taken in 2011. After that all the compliances have been put in place and there are proper records maintained. The present problems of these women can’t be related to the 2011 trials. It’s been a long time and it is not possible to last for so long.”