Money and Distorted Ethical Judgments About Research: Ethical Assessment of the TeGenero TGN1412 Trial
Creator
Emanuel, Ezekiel J.
Miller, Franklin G.
Bibliographic Citation
American Journal of Bioethics 2007 February; 7(2): 76-81
Abstract
The recent TeGenero phase I trial of a novel monoclonal antibody in healthy volunteers produced a drastic inflammatory reaction in participants receiving the experimental agent. Commentators on the ethics of the research have focused considerable attention on the role of financial considerations: the for-profit status of the biotechnology company and Contract Research Organization responsible respectively for sponsoring and conducting the trial and the amount of monetary compensation to participants. We argue that these financial considerations are largely irrelevant and distort ethical appraisal of this tragic research. Except for administering the antibody to all 6 participants nearly simultaneously, the trial appears to fulfill all of the critical ethical requirements for clinical research?social value, scientific validity, fair subject selection, favorable risk-benefit ratio, independent review, informed consent, and respect for enrolled participants.
Date
2007-02Subject
Biotechnology; Compensation; Clinical Research; Consent; Ethics; Informed Consent; Research; Review; Risk; Volunteers; Professional-Professional Relationship; Drugs and Drug Industry; Human Experimentation; Informed Consent or Human Experimentation; Scientific Research Ethics; Economics of Health Care;
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