LambDa Therapeutic Research Limited, a multinational clinical research company with a centre in Ahmedabad, has closed its site at the V R Desai Cancer Research Institute (VRDCRI) following allegations of illegal trial.

A month after dual complaints of illegal trials under the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and commercial misuse of the trust-run hospital were registered with the department of medical services, Lambda has reportedly discontinued its cancer research project at this only specialty hospital in Saurashtra.

“Top Lambda officials have confirmed that they issued orders to discontinue the research project in the last week of April,” said Kishor Ghia, one of the trustees of VRDCRI.

Dr A Buch, a professor with the Rajkot Medical College, who resigned from the post of HREC chairman in January, said: “I resigned, as the VRDCRI managing body refused to make public basic details like the name of the drug, drug company and the number of volunteers and trials conducted.”

He added: “I believed such basic information should be made public, if not research findings.”

Ghia, who has registered a complaint with the state medical services department, further said: “Despite several requests, the HREC did not share the basic research details even when commercial activity like clinical research can cancel the Income Tax exemption for a trust-run hospital.”

The trustee claimed that many donors have threatened to discontinue grants following ambiguity over the status and function of HREC.

Most members of the HREC, under which the Lambda officials had conducted the trials, refused to comment on the issue.

So did Pravin Doshi, chairman of VRDCRI governing council and HREC member; Dr V K Gupta, medical director and principal vigilator of HREC; and Binish Chudgar, Managing Director, Lambda. However, when Newsline had first reported the story of illegal trial in April, Gupta had said that HREC stands dissolved following baseless allegations against it.