HC Deb 15 December 1992 vol 216 cc183-4W
Ms. Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the standards with respect to the strength, purity and quality of pituitary-derived human growth hormone used in clinical trials and Medical Research Council-funded research.

Dr. Mawhinney

The Medical Research Council (MRC) working party on human growth hormone issued batches of human growth hormone for use in the trial after deciding that they were of an acceptable quality for clinical use. The MRC steering committee for the human pituitary collection issued stringent criteria for the collection and inclusion of pituitary glands that were used for the production of growth hormone preparations.

Ms. Eagle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what licences or certificates were granted in respect of clinical trials for pituitary-derived human growth hormone; and if she will list in each case(a) the date of issue, (b) the holder, (c) dates of renewal applications made and granted, (d) action taken by the licensing authority and (e) recommendations made by the Medicines Commission or Committee on Safety of Medicines.

Dr. Mawhinney

I understand from the Medical Research Council that no clinical trial certificates were issued for pituitary-derived growth hormone, according to the available records.