At least six people are critically ill in France
after a trial involving a new medical treatment
went wrong, the French health ministry said.
The patients became ill and were admitted to
hospital earlier this week after taking a trial
drug developed by a private medical laboratory
in the northern city of Rennes, the French TV
channel TF1 said on Friday.
"This test was carried out at a private facility
specialised in carrying out clinical trials," the
ministry said in a statement.
One of those affected was described by the
health ministry as being "in a state of clinical
death".
Calling it a "grave accident", the ministry said
that Marisol Touraine, France's health minister,
would travel to Rennes, where the trial was
taking place, on Friday afternoon.
French media outlet BFMTV said eight people
were believed to have taken part in the trial,
with two of those given placebos. In total, 90
people have taken part in the trial.
All trials on the drug have been suspended and
all volunteers who have taken part in the trial
are being called back.
Another media outlet, iTele, said that the trial
was for a painkiller containing cannabis and
took place at a laboratory in Rennes.
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