Trovan: After DNA, now the end game

Dozens turned up on the first day for the DNA test embarked upon by Pfizer to identify genuine victims of the controversial 1996 Trovan drug test during an outbreak of meningitis in Kano. In fulfilling this condition, a team of forensic scientists from Bode Technology Group Inc, had arrived from the United States to conduct the DNA sample collection and testing on the claimants.
The arrival of the team was criticized by the chairman of Trovan Victims Forum (TVF), Mustapha Garba Maisikeli, who expressed reservations about the competence of the experts.

“We are not afraid of DNA test, but our grouse is that the so called doctors handling the DNA test are not experts of the DNA, they are pediatricians, what do they know about DNA,” he queried. “They should go and look for experts even in Nigeria we have few.”

Maisikeli’s attempt to impugn the integrity of Bode Laboratories is considered pathetic considering that the laboratory ranks among the best in the world, a fact which a brief check on the internet would easily establish.

Mr. Maisikeli further accused the Meningitis Trust Fund board of trustees of taking sides with Pfizer because they failed to answer the question of how the board intends to confirm that any DNA samples Pfizer may send are not those of children from other parts of Nigeria or Africa.

Reactions to Maisikeli’s allegations
At the onset of the DNA exercise, a non-governmental organization, the Proletarian Agenda had warmed as follows:
“We want to alert the security agencies that there are some fifth columnists who want the entire process scuttled. We hope the police and other agencies will be on high alert to deal with possible mischief makers.”

Also, during the exercise, another civil society group, Mens Sana, commented as follows:

“The tactics of Maisikeli and his TVF are so predictable they are actually cheap. What manner of patriot would attempt trading with the lives of people? When the Kano State government and Pfizer reached an out-of-court settlement, we were among the civil society groups who volunteered to closely monitor the process. That we have done steadfastly. We fear that the current attempt to derail the DNA testing by Maisikeli and his cohorts is a slap on the face of the Kano State government which entered into the agreement in the first place. It is also an insult on the respected Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero who has gone on record as endorsing the use of DNA to determine rightful claimants. Maisikeli is afraid of science. He wants a resort to primitive fakery.

“We call on the Kano State government to live up to its responsibilities by ensuring that the compensation process is concluded expeditiously and successfully. The earlier the better. The millions of Naira to be collected by proven beneficiaries will go a long way to improve their lives. Maisikeli’s interloping belligerence can’t help the Trovan participants. If anything, it is designed to prolong their agony. We challenge Maisikeli to provide his DNA sample so that the world can scientifically prove if any of his children or wards was involved in the Trovan test as he has been claiming."
The statement went on: “But to capitalise on the illiteracy of many of the participants to cause confusion borders on criminality. There must be a more endearing way to earn a living than making a profession out of carpet-bagging and blackmail. We call on the Board of Trustees and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the compensation process goes on unfailingly as expected.”

At the Lamido Road base of the trust fund, it was observed that Mr. Maiskeli failed to discourage some of the claimants from partaking in the exercise. Dozens of women, men and children could be sighted waiting to take their turn to be tested by the team of experts.

One of the claimants, Rabiu Adamu, who was accompanied by his wife Halima, lost one of their sons last year as a result of complications from the 1996 test. He said that they decided to defy the TVF instructions because TVF cannot compensate them. Mr. Adamu said he, alongside his wife are ready to subject themselves to any process to get their compensation.

“The truth is that even though we are aggrieved we believe in the test,” he said. “We are ready to subject ourselves to any process because we are genuine claimants. We can’t answer the call by the TVF, they are not going to compensate. It is Pfizer that will do that.”

Some other victims at the test venue also expressed their confidence in the DNA test, stating that they were prepared to go through the process if it was the only way that Pfizer will ascertain genuine claimants.

Genuine victims?
Two boards of trustees were set up as a result of Pfizer’s insistence on ascertaining the genuineness of the claimants. However, when it was time for the claimants to come for compensation, 610 persons had filled and submitted forms to the Trust Fund claiming to have participated in the 1996 study carried out by Pfizer in Kano.

Official records with Pfizer showed that those that participated in the ill fated tests were not more than 200 persons during the study. Officials of the Trust Fund, led by retried Supreme Court Justice Bashir Wali, insisted that DNA test of the claimants be taken to determine the genuine claimants.

Out of the 547 claimants that collected and submitted their claim forms to the trust fund, 324 are in the category of those who are alive but want to be compensated for bodily harm inflicted on them by the drug. The remaining 223 who are expected to partake in the DNA test claim they lost their children or relatives when the clinical trial took place at Kano Infectious Diseases Hospital in 1996. At the end of May, about 325 claimants who presented themselves for DNA testing had been tested.

End game
When Maisikeli’s attempt to secure a court injunction to stop the DNA testing failed, he tried a few more desperate maneuvers all of which hit the rocks. He is now casting his gaze at the suit filed in the US by his old ally, Mashaba. In a release signed by Maisikeli on behalf of TVF, he threatens to file a fresh suit against Pfizer in the US courts. The purpose of this latest move is quite clear: it is a last ditch attempt to cling to whatever straw is available because at least 353 claimants have already been DNA-tested by Bode Laboratories (reliable sources disclosed that 559 donors were involved because of cases where claims were being made in respect of deceased persons where multiple DNA samples had to be collected to make assurance doubly sure). Once the claims are verified, payment will commence. Maisikeli and his group will be left in the cold. By then, whoever is still with him will jump ship and submit themselves for DNA tests. But all that is assuming that the 192 names being flaunted by Maisikeli actually exist. His latest moves are therefore interpretable only within the context of his attempts to seek relevance and be treated as a factor in the settlement process.
(Pharmawatch with agency reports and onlinenigeria.com)