In a troubling development, Moderna has come under fire from UK regulators for enticing children aged 12 to 18 to participate in COVID-19 booster trials with substantial cash payments. Tasked with evaluating the efficacy of its NextCove trial, the pharmaceutical giant reportedly targeted young participants via WhatsApp, offering them £1,500—a move deemed an "inappropriate financial inducement" by the UK Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA). This incident raises significant ethical concerns about the recruitment practices of pharmaceutical companies, especially when it involves vulnerable populations like minors.
Moderna has been rebuked by UK regulators after offering children cash paymens to take part in their Covid booster trials.
The big pharma company was ordered to pay £14,000 after it emerged that they targeted 12 to 18 year-olds through WhatsApp with payments of £1,500
The Telegrpah reports: The U.K. Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) ruled that the offer amounted to “inappropriate financial inducement” and found the company had brought “discredit upon the pharmaceutical industry”.
The offer was made by a paediatrician from an unnamed NHS trust, inviting those aged between 12 and 18 years old to enrol in the NextCove trial, which was examining the efficacy of Moderna’s booster jab.
The inducement was made even though a research ethics committee had warned about the “large amount of money” that Moderna was offering participants, and voiced concern it was “much higher than would be considered a reasonable reimbursement”.
Moderna later amended the offer to just £185, but despite the change, at least one trial centre carried on offering the original sum.
Under The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations it is prohibited for incentives or financial inducements to be given to children or their parents.
In a statement, the PMCPA ruled: “The panel noted that the financial incentive offered within the unapproved WhatsApp message was never paid but considered that it might have encouraged participants to apply to take part.
“The panel considered that the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the particular circumstances of this trial, which involved the recruitment of children, meant that Moderna should have been especially cautious.
“On balance, the panel considered that this brought discredit upon and reduced confidence in the pharmaceutical industry.”
Moderna must provide a written undertaking that the practice will “cease forthwith” and pay for administrative costs.
However, critics said that the sanction was too small to be effective.
Esther McVey MP, formerly of the APPG on COVID-19 vaccine damage said: “A charge of £14,000 to a company that enjoyed a total revenue of $6.8 billion in 2023 is hardly likely to make them think twice before breaking the rules again.”
As of October 2023, discussions surrounding ethical recruitment practices in clinical trials have intensified globally, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Critics across various platforms have been advocating for stricter regulations to safeguard children in medical research. Additionally, several countries are reviewing their clinical trial policies to prevent similar occurrences, emphasizing the importance of ethical standards in the pharmaceutical industry.
