Volunteers for anti-diarrhoea drug offered free holiday to Mexico
Volunteers are being offered a free trip to Mexico or Guatemala on the condition that they test a new drug for travellers' diarrhoea.
By Chris Irvine
Published: 7:30AM GMT 29 Dec 2009
Volunteers for anti-diarrhoea drug offered free holiday to Mexico
A beach in Cancun, Mexico
The 'Trek Study', sponsored by Intercell, a US vaccine manufacturer, will provide 1,800 volunteers aged 18 to 64, with three-star hotels.
They are allowed eat and drink what they choose, with the only catch being they do not go more than three hours' travelling time from one of the test
centres where they will be required to attend for blood tests and provide stool samples should they become ill.
The vaccine has already been tested on humans and an initial study with 170 American volunteers found that it reduced the incidence of diarrhoea by 75
per cent.
For the new study, volunteers are being recruited in Germany and Britain. The British study is being co-ordinated by the Hospital for Tropical
Diseases in London, with recruitment clinics set up around the country.
The vaccine is delivered through a patch worn on the arm for six hours three weeks prior to travelling, followed by a booster dose delivered by a
second patch one week before travelling.
Thomas Lingelbach, chief executive of Intercell, said they wanted to attract volunteers from different geographical areas because travellers'
diarrhoea is different in different regions.
Dr Nigel Thomas, clinical director at Intercell, told The Independent: "We are looking for people who have already planned to go to Mexico or
Guatemala and think this would add another interesting aspect. We cover their expenses – flights and accommodation – nothing beyond that.
"It is almost like going on a package holiday. They will be met by a concierge who will take them to their hotel and arrange for them to give their
first blood sample within 48 hours. We need them to agree to be co-operative. Everyone has heard of travellers' diarrhoea."
He added that the results of the study could be compromised if volunteers chose to eat only in five-star hotels, adding: "If a traveller is interested
in the country they will end up eating outside hotel restaurants."Family Guy - 12-29-2009 at 03:13 PM
Sounds like a good deal but it looks like they are only taking Europeans. The United States is not an option on the drop down menu.Bajahowodd - 12-29-2009 at 04:38 PM
I find it interesting that while we both speak English, (so to speak), the British spelling of the malady is different from ours. Diarrhoea v.
diarrhea. It feels the same.vacaenbaja - 12-29-2009 at 11:10 PM
I've "Knocked up" many women while in the UK, but none of them ever became pregnant on my account.Bob H - 12-29-2009 at 11:35 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I find it interesting that while we both speak English, (so to speak), the British spelling of the malady is different from ours. Diarrhoea v.
diarrhea. It feels the same.
Very interesting observation. I am most positive there are may more different British spellings. Isn't aluminum one of them? Or, is it just they
way they pronounce it? Isn't film pronounced filum?........... jeese
Bob H
