French drug trial disaster leaves one brain dead, five injured

An ambulance is seen outside the Emergency Entrance at the CHU de Rennes hospital, in Rennes, France, where six people are in a serious condition after taking part in a medical trial for an unnamed European laboratory to test a new drug, France's health ministry said January 15, 2016. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

PARIS - One person has been left brain dead and five others have been hospitalised after taking part in a clinical trial in France of an experimental drug made by Portuguese drug company Bial, French Health Minister Marisol Touraine said on Friday.

In total, 90 people have taken part in the trial, taking some dosage of the drug aimed at tackling mood and anxiety issues, as well as movement coordination disorders linked to neurological issues, Touraine said.