SC seeks composite documents on clinical trial rules and shortcomings in those

NEW DELHI: (Apr 21) The Supreme Court asked an NGO on Tuesday to file composite documents detailing alleged shortcomings in the 2024 rules that were framed to streamline the approval process for clinical trials of vaccines and new medicines in the country.

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) matter filed by NGO Swasthya Adhikar Manch in 2012, alleging large-scale clinical drug trials across the country by multinational pharmaceutical firms.

Citing inadequate safety provisions, the PIL has alleged that poor citizens are still being used as "guinea pigs" and not paid adequate compensation.