GlaxoSmithKline to grant access to mother and baby home vaccine trial records

Nine separate trials were carried out on infants in the homes between 1934-1973.

Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to grant survivors access to documents relating to nine separate trials carried out in mother and baby homes in Ireland between 1934-1973. The trials, addressed in the Commission of Investigation report into the homes published in January, involved seven vaccine trials and two milk formula trials. GSK said it has "established an enhanced information service" on the trials for former residents of mother and baby homes "in response to the issues raised following the publication of the Commission of Investigation’s report." This includes a more simplified information request service and the publication of trial summary documents. In a statement, the company said: "For some years GSK has provided an information service to survivors who request that a search of the records is performed to identify what, if any, personal information GSK holds about them. "Demand for this service - known as a ‘subject access request’ - has increased since the publication of the Commission of Investigation’s report. "...GSK wants to ensure that survivors who believe they may have been a participant in a trial are aware they have a statutory right to submit an information request to the company in relation to their personal information." The company added that records are not complete for every trial, and that "While some of the individual clinical trial records do contain important identifying information such as names and dates of birth, this information is not available for all trials." As it is thereby not possible to verify the identity of every participant in the trials, the company is also publishing the trial summary documents with information about the development and licensing history of the trial products. GSK said this documentation was collated from its London archives as well as other published sources "to evaluate, as far as possible, the history of the vaccine or milk products after their trials were conducted by researchers in mother and baby homes." The statement added: "GSK would like to re-emphasise its sympathies to the women, children and families affected by the issues raised in the Commission’s report and sincerely hopes the work undertaken to enhance its information service and publish trial summaries will better support those searching for more information about their personal experience or that of a family member." Those seeking to access information relating to the trials can find more information here.