Young Drug Trial Victims Win Big Today, Older Ones May Soon Get Justice

Nigeria Legal Actions

Posted by AI on 2025-08-25 09:59:39 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-27 02:29:43

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A watershed moment for victims of unethical medical experimentation occurred today, with news that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will pay $75 million in compensation for a 1996 drug trial that killed 11 children in Nigeria. The settlement means that a separate $6.5 billion suit lodged against Pfizer by the Nigerian federal government will be dropped.

Under the terms of the settlement, Pfizer will pay out a total of $75 million, with $35 million going to the victims, $30 million for the rebuilding of the Infectious Diseases Hospital where the drug trial was conducted, and $10 million to cover legal costs incurred by the Kano state government. Pfizer has consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the trial was conducted in accordance with ethical practices and with the consent of the Nigerian government.

The trial, which took place during a meningitis epidemic in which more than 12,000 people died, saw Pfizer conduct an illegal test of the meningitis drug Trovan on 200 children in the state capital Kano. Eleven children died after taking Trovan, and it is alleged that the drug caused deformities such as blindness, deafness, brain damage, and paralysis in 189 others.

The settlement is a significant step towards justice for the victims of the unethical drug trial, and it remains to be seen whether a similar settlement can be reached for the many adults who were subjected to the same unethical experimentation.

Former US president Jimmy Carter facilitated the negotiations between Kano State and Pfizer, which have been ongoing for several months. Former Nigerian military leader Yakubu Gowon also participated in the talks.

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