Six men in intensive care after drug trial in UK

LONDON, Mar 15 (Reuters) Six men were taken into intensive care in London after being taken ill during a clinical test for a new drug.

The men fell ill yesterday after taking a drug being developed to treat chronic inflammatory conditions and leukemia, a British medicines watchdog said.

''Our immediate priority has been to ensure that no further patients are harmed,'' said Kent Woods, chief executive officer of the watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

''We will now undertake an exhaustive investigation to determine the cause and ensure all appropriate actions are taken,'' he said in a statement.

The MHRA did not name the drug in its statement or the company that produces it.

It said eight men took part in the trial, two of whom were given a placebo. The six that took it all fell ill.

The MHRA said it had suspended the trial and notified other European regulatory bodies about the incident.

Reuters SK VP0415