NEW YORK - Pfizer Inc. issued the following statement regarding a ruling by the Federal High Court of Abuja granting a temporary injunction as to DNA testing and analysis in a case filed by Mustapha Maisikeli and others against the company, Board of Trustees of the Healthcare/Meningitis Trust Fund, Kano State government and Nigerian federal government. The Honorable Justice G.O. Kolawole adjourned the proceedings until July 20, 2010.
“The Court’s order is a temporary procedural measure and not a decision on the merits of this case. The Company regrets that this legal action may very well deny valid claimants, who voluntarily participated in the agreed upon settlement process, their ability to receive funds from the Trust Fund, or at least it may unnecessarily delay the time when payments are made.
“It has been well established that, while there were no more than 200 participants in the 1996 Trovan clinical trial, the Board received more than double that number of claims. The collection and testing of DNA is a safeguard included in the settlement agreement as agreed upon by both Pfizer and the Kano State government to ensure that the funds reach only those for whom they are intended.
“Under the settlement agreement, the Board - not Pfizer or the Kano State government - will make the final determinations on eligibility of the claimants and, if applicable, the level of financial support they will receive. Pfizer will provide the Board with the funds to compensate approved claimants as specified in the settlement agreement.”
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