The Constant Gardener

It's possible that the film version of LeCarre's novel will result in a little more attention paid to drug research performed in the Third World. If so, we'll realize a few things:

• The drugs being tested on people in the Third World are for maladies of people in the developed world.
• It's estimated that half of the clinical trials are now being performed in developing countries. The reason being it's cheaper and faster.
• Companies can avoid following FDA requirements such as detailed description of the research, plans for getting informed consent and monitoring the progress of the study.
• Usually, the FDA does not validate the assertions of the company doing the research in a developing country; they assume the information reflects reality.
• It's not only drug companies that test new drugs on people in developing countries. The NIH and CDC have also done so.