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Questionable herpes vaccine research backed by tech heavyweight Peter Thiel may have jeopardized $15 million in federal research funding to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. That's according to documents obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request by The State Journal Register.
In August, Kaiser Health News reported that Thiel and other conservative investors had contributed $7 million for the live-but-weakened herpes virus vaccine, developed by the late SIU researcher William Halford. The investments came after Halford and his private company, Rational Vaccines, had begun conducting small clinical trials in the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. With the off-shore location, Rational Vaccines' trial skirted federal regulations and standard safety protocols for human trials, including having approval and oversight from an institutional review board (IRB).
Experts were quick to call the unapproved trial "patently unethical," and researchers rejected the data from publication, calling the handling of safety issues "reckless." The government of St. Kitts opened an investigation into the trial and reported that health authorities there had been kept in the dark.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by wisnoskij on Thursday November 16 2017, @10:47PM (2 children)
The story seems to be saying that a company is developing a drug in the Caribbean , that would greatly help the Caribbean, while following all Caribbean guidelines and requirements.
I don't see what concern it is to us what laws and regulations the Caribbean decides are necessary to restrict life saving medical research.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 16 2017, @11:07PM
It involves Peter Thiel! Hate!
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Friday November 17 2017, @02:25AM
You might want to follow the links within the summary? Seems to be saying:
"An “active investigation” has begun in St Kitts and Nevis over allegations that a US-backed vaccine test took place in the federation to evade American safety oversight.
In a statement this evening, the country’s chief medical officer said in a statement via the Ministry of Health and Social Services, that a number of organisations have been kept in the dark over clinical trials.
“The Ministry of Health states categorically that neither the cabinet, the Ministry of Health, the office of chief medical officer nor the St Kitts and Nevis Medical Board has ever been approached on this project,” the statement read.
http://wicnews.com/caribbean/investigation-underway-clinical-trials-st-kitts-nevis-51245133/ [wicnews.com]
So, obviously, guidelines and requirements of St. Kitts and Nevis were evaded, right along with all pertinent US guidelines and requirements.