Volume 7: Medicines and Cosmetics
7.
The Tyrrell proposals for research into pharmaceuticals
Introduction
Why did this research matter?
7.1 The unanswered question that plagued decisions on vaccines was whether serum and other materials used during production of medicinal products could transmit the BSE agent. In this chapter we review what happened to research proposals to establish clearer evidence about this.
7.2 In particular we look at recommendations made in the Interim Report of the Tyrrell Consultative Committee on Research into Spongiform Encephalopathies (the Tyrrell Committee) in June 1989. This report recommended a variety of research projects to be carried out in relation to BSE. 1
7.3 The Tyrrell Report described the main purpose of its proposed research agenda as to 'seek reassurance that the Southwood group was correct in their belief that this disease would not have implications for human health, say through food, through occupational exposure or through medicinal products that use bovine ingredients'. 2
7.4 Section 5 of the Report contained two proposals for transmission studies relating to pharmaceuticals, proposals C2a and C2b. We trace the story of these proposals in this chapter.
1 Information on the framework for commissioning and funding scientific research generally, can be found in Volume 2. This includes details of how DH organised research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
2 IBD1 tab 4 para. 2.2
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