Fantastic news! A US drug company is offering free vacations to Mexico for volunteers willing to try a new diarrhea drug! Honestly, if you paid for your own Mexican vacation you’d probably end up with a horrible bathroom issue anyway, so why not? (Did someone say ideal recession vacation and weight loss plan all rolled into one?)
Intercell, a vaccine manufacturer, is offering up to $1500 to cover the costs of flights and accommodations in Mexico (or Guatemala if participants choose). Participants will be required to wear vaccine patches, and give frequent blood and feces samples. With a total of 1,800 volunteers needed, the project is off to a running start by giving vacation-hungry travelers the runs.
Intercell’s clinical direction, Nigel Thomas, recently told a British newspaper, “We are looking for people who have already planned to go to Mexico or Guatemala, and I think this would add another interesting aspect. It’s almost like going on a package holiday. They will be met by a concierge who will take them to their hotel and arrange for them to give their first blood sample within 48 hours.”
According to the website, to be eligible for to participate in this clinical trial, known as Trek Study, volunteers must be:
- between 18-64
- in general good health
- travelling to Mexico or Guatemala for at least seven days before May 2010
- willing to maintain a study diary for 17 days
A diarrhea journal?! Yay! You’ll have all that extra cash from the free vacation to spend on a beautiful notebook to record all your crappiest thoughts.
I have to say, one of the best things of 2009 was finding out about this here website. It’s brought me so much happiness. Happy New Year!
Thanks, and happy new year Jen:)
This sounds like the beginning to a bad made for SYFY movie. ALl participants either end up dead or mutated.
I would do it! why not? happy new year!