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One in coma after French clinical trial One in coma after clinical trial in France
(35 minutes later)
Six people are in a critical condition - including one in a coma - after clinical trial of new drug in France, the country's health minister says. A clinical trial of a new drug in France has left one person brain-dead and another five people in hospital, the health minister says.
Marisol Touraine said there had been a "very serious accident" during a trial by a private laboratory in Rennes. The oral trial was being conducted by a private laboratory in the north-western city of Rennes, Marisol Touraine said.
The minister said she would be making an emergency visit to the city, in the north-west of France, on Friday.
The trial has been suspended and the firm is recalling the volunteers. It is unclear how many people are involved.The trial has been suspended and the firm is recalling the volunteers. It is unclear how many people are involved.
Participants had taken "a drug taken orally being developed by a European laboratory" that was licensed to operate, the ministry said in a statement (in French). Media reports that the drug is a cannabis-based painkiller have been denied by the health ministry.
Unconfirmed French media reports said it was a cannabis-based painkiller. The Paris prosecutor's office said an investigation had been opened.
The first people to fall ill were taken into hospital earlier this week, French media said. An investigation is under way. The drug was taken in a licensed laboratory, the ministry said in a statement (in French).
Ms Touraine expressed her "deep determination to get to the bottom... of this tragic accident" and find who was responsible. Ms Touraine, who was heading for Rennes on Friday, pledged to "get to the bottom... of this tragic accident".
The first people to fall ill were taken into hospital earlier this week, French media say.
The study was a Phase I clinical trial, in which healthy volunteers take the medication to evaluate the safety of its use, the ministry said.
Clinical trials
Trials typically have three phases to assess a new medicine for safety and effectiveness