Drug trial creates 'Elephant Man'

Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Posted: 10:07 a.m. EST (15:07 GMT)

LONDON, England -- Two men are in critical condition in a London hospital and four others are in serious condition after taking part in a clinical trial for a new drug.

One victim, whose head and neck were reported to have increased to three times normal size, was described by a friend as resembling "the Elephant Man."

The men were admitted late Monday to the intensive care unit from an independent medical research unit at Northwick Park Hospital after reacting badly to the drug, which is intended to treat chronic inflammatory conditions and leukemia.

Source and full story: CNN