Science Experiments With Terrifying Consequences – SlashGear

In 2006, researchers from the German pharmaceutical company TeGenero were working on a new cancer drug called TGN1412. The compound went through the usual steps, starting with animal tests and progressing toward human trials. According to the researchers, nothing in the animal tests suggested any significant negative side effects, but that didn’t hold true once humans were involved.

Six volunteers were chosen for the first human trial, each of whom was injected with the drug 15 minutes apart. Just as soon as the last participant received their injection, the first one collapsed (via New Scientist). Shortly thereafter, all six were in intensive care, two of whom were in critical condition. Thankfully, no one died. The drug was intended to modulate the immune response to better attack cancers or treat autoimmune disorders. In the six test subjects, the immune system was dialed all the way up and the T cells started attacking their own tissues, resulting in multiple organ failures.

Surprisingly, TGN1412 might be making a triumphant return after years of additional testing. In new research, this time for arthritis treatment, the drug is being dosed 20 times lower than it was before, which appears to make it safer while still providing some immune benefit (via Science).