U of M attorney to meet with Regents on drug trial investigation

by Lorna Benson, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — An attorney for the University of Minnesota says he will meet with Regents this week to discuss a request for an independent drug trial investigation.

Eight U of M bioethicists sent a letter to the Regents asking them to appoint a panel to re-examine the 2004 suicide death of Dan Markingson.

They allege that Markingson may have been too ill to consent to enroll in the drug trial. They also question the drug-maker's financial incentives.

General Counsel Mark Rotenberg says faculty members have a right to make sure that the University's drug trials work properly.

"The letter is going to be taken very seriously and the issues that are raised in the letter are serious, important issues," Rotenberg said. "The system of clinical research at the University of Minnesota is predicated on having policies and practices that protect human subjects."

However, Rotenberg says numerous independent bodies have already cleared the University of wrongdoing in the case.

"If you take all of these independent reviews together, the picture becomes pretty clear that the University and the researchers here did not engage in any misconduct or improprieties," he said.

The Regents will hold public meetings on Thursday and Friday. The investigation request is not on their agenda.