Vol. 475 No. 5
95 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he has taken following a radio report (details supplied) regarding a drug called Immunokine which is said to help multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C; if he intends to authorise any clinical trials involving the drug; and his advice to hepatitis C victims who might contemplate travelling to the Bahamas to avail of the treatment. [5264/97]
Limerick East): Following the radio programme in question, the Department of Health was in touch with the Irish Medicines Board, which is the body with statutory responsibility for the approval of clincial trials. The board confirmed that the person who was interviewed on the programme has been in touch with the board and had been given a full set of the information necessary to assist him in framing an application for clincal trial approval. He was also given information on possible sources of funding for research. The board has not had any further communication from the person concerned and no clincial trial application has bene submitted to date.
As regards giving advice to patients, the Deputy will appreciate that a person's concerns about any aspect of his or her condition or its treatment is best discussed with the patient's own doctor. I should point out, however, that it is the understanding of the Irish Medicines Board that the medicine in question has no licence anywhere in the world and that it is not currently approved for the undertaking of clincial trials either by the American regulatory authorities or by those in any EU member state.
