Trovan Drug Tragedy: Pfizer Pays $700K Compensation To Four Kano victims

KANO, August 11, (THEWILL) - Relatives of the four victims who lost their lives while participating in the Trovan clinical trial conducted by Pfizer Pharmaceutical were on Thursday compensated by Healthcare Meningitis Trust Fund with the sum of $175,000 USD each.

The four recipients are Malam Usman Garba, Hajia Hauwa Umar, Malam Ado Useni and Malam Rabiu Isah.

An elated Hajia Hauwa Umar told THEWILL after receiving her cheque that she lost a child during the 1996 Trovan trial.

“I had given up over the incident. I never knew that this moment will come. Though I still mourn my child, I thank God for this day.”

In his address during the brief ceremony, the chairman of the Trust Fund, Justice Abubakar Bashir Wali (rtd) said a total number of 668 claim forms were collected by the Board during screening.

“Out of this number, a total of 548 claim forms were completed and returned to the secretariat by the prospective claimants. The Board conducted DNA test on 353 claimants. During the first stage of the exercise, eight positive results were received, out of which four died while participating in the clinical trial,” he added.

He said the remaining four belong to study participants who are still alive, pointing out that the Board has concluded the required medical test to ascertain the percentage of their medical disabilities, pains and suffering.

He further explained that the final report of the first phase of the DNA is yet to be received from the company that conducted the exercise, while the second DNA test on 193 claimants is being awaited, adding that these claimants had protested through a court action but later settled out-of-court with Pfizer and the Board.

The chairman, however promised that whenever more results are received, the Board would not hesitate to process them so as to facilitate settlement of qualified claimants.

Another member of the Board, Dr. Prosper Igboeli told THEWILL that the Trust Fund has concluded plans to mount enormous pressure on the DNA Company in the United States to release more results in order to speed up the compensation process.