Nigeria brings criminal charges against Pfizer over 1996 drug test

This is the first time the Nigerian government has taken action concerning the tragedy. Numerous attempts by the relatives of the victims have been shot down in US courts. But, more than a decade after this tragic incident, there is growing public awareness and outcry over the greedy, unethical and often criminal conduct of multi-national drug companies.

According to a recent Washington Post article, “authorities in Kano, the country’s largest state, filed eight charges related to the 1996 clinical trial, including counts of criminal conspiracy and voluntarily causing grievous harm. They also filed a civil lawsuit seeking more than $2 billion in damages and restitution from Pfizer, the world’s largest drug company.”

In addition to the multinational drug firm itself, the criminal indictment charges Pfizer’s Nigerian subsidiary and eight current or former executives and researchers. If convicted those named could face up to seven years in prison.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2007/jun2007/pfiz-j04.shtml