22 people died during clinical trial of drugs in 2010

New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) Twenty-two persons lost their
lives in the country during clinical trials of drugs conducted
by nine pharmaceutical companies in 2010, the Indian
Government said on Tuesday.
Initially, it was reported that 25 people have died
during the trials in 2010. But investigations later found that
there were 22 "serious adverse events (SAEs) of deaths
attributable to clinical trials" in that year, Health Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a written reply.
"The sponsors/clinical research organisations involved in
the trials were directed by the Drugs Controller General of
India in April 2011 to provide compensations to dependents of
the deceased," Azad said.
As per the information made available by those companies,
compensation has since been paid in all 22 cases of trials
related deaths, he said.
According to data presented by the minister, five people
died during trials of drugs by German firm Bayer, while three
deaths each resulted from trials by international pharma
companies Sanofi, Pfizer and Lilly.