A court battle between Nigeria and Pfizer, Inc. has resumed in Kano, Nigeria, as the United States drug manufacturer continues to claim it helped save African children from death during a meningitis outbreak.

Nigeria accuses Pfizer, Inc. of deceiving patients and causing the deaths of 11 children in 1996, when the company performed clinical trials for a brand new drug. Nigeria and the northern state of Kano are now suing Pfizer, Inc. for $8.5 billion.

More than 12,000 children died during a meningitis outbreak near Kano over the course of six months. Meningitis is a fast acting infection of the nervous system with the potential to be fatal if not treated within hours.

Pfizer responded to Nigeria’s international plea for help by bringing the country Trovan, a new and experimental drug.

The clinical test involved 200 children. Half of the children were administered Trovan, while the other half were administered an established meningitis treatment.

Nigeria alleges Pfizer is responsible for 11 children’s deaths and the health problems of other children. Nigeria also says Pfizer did not obtain all the mandatory approvals for the test and did not receive informed consent from the patients.

The father of two alleged victims said his two daughters died a few weeks after being taken to the Infectious Diseases Hospital, after exhibiting flu-like symptoms associated with meningitis.

Trovan was licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and approved for use in adults shortly after the Kano clinical trial. The drug was Pfizer’s best-selling product for a period of time.

However, three years later Trovan was found to cause serious liver injuries in various patients. The authorities responded by placing restrictions on its usage.

Source: “Pfizer faces $8.5 bln suit over Nigeria drug trial,” Reuters.Com, October 8, 2007.