Clinical trial volunteers released from hospital

Three clinical trial volunteers who fell ill at a Cork clinic after they took part in a trial for a new cancer drug have been released from hospital.

They are now under supervision at the clinic where the trial was being run.

The three were part of a 12-person cohort of volunteers taking part in the trial, which had been due to run until Thursday but has now been stopped.

The nine other volunteers did not fall ill, but remain at the private Shandon Clinic in Cork, which was running the trial, under medical supervision.

The clinic said today that it expected to discharge all 12 volunteers early next week.

The medication had been tested there before and adverse reactions were not expected.

Shandon clinic medical director Muiris Dowling said: "The medical staff at Shandon wish to express their thanks to the staff of the HSE ambulance service and Cork University Hospital for their very prompt and professional service."