Friday, June 9, 2006 | 7:41 a.m.
When Daniel McDade was looking for a way to earn extra money, he never thought he might find it by becoming a human guinea pig.
Like many people, the 40-year-old Las Vegan had heard the ads promising hundreds or even thousands of dollars for people willing to take part in medical research. He admits to some reservations:
"I thought it was worth looking into and if it didn't sound right, I wouldn't do it."
He contacted the company, Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services on Pecos-McLeod, and what he found out intrigued him.
The medical research part seemed safe enough, and McDade met Novum's basic requirements. He was over age 18, drug free and in good health.
The company tests generic forms of medications to make sure they duplicate the effects of their brand-name counterparts.
McDade also found the money enticing. Participants can earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $3,000, depending on the study.
And while some studies require participants to stay at the facility for several days, McDade had no problem with that.
"I teach computer courses from my home, so I have a pretty flexible schedule," he says.
So McDade gave clinical trials a try. Two years, thousands of dollars and 14 such trials later, he's still glad that he did.
"It's a great way to earn some extra money," he says. "They treat you really good, they feed you and the whole facility is really nice."
He still has all of his fingers and toes, doesn't glow in the dark and, McDade says, he has suffered but one minor side effect: "I tested a blood pressure patch one time and felt a little fatigued. But they monitor you very closely and I never felt like I was in any danger."
Chris Hendy, president and chief executive of Novum, says participant safety is a high priority. All applicants go through a screening process before each study even if they have participated in previous studies.
He likens the process to an annual physical , plus a drug-screen. If the study involves drawing blood, HIV and hepatitis tests are also done.
"I'm not saying you have to be some star athlete, but we want you to be in general good health," Hendy says.
Participants also must sign a consent document that provides information about the study, including any potential risks or side effects.
Hendy says that candidates are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns with the staff before signing the form. Participants are also checked periodically, by doctors, nurses or researchers, during the course of the study and again when it ends.
While some studies allow participants to leave the facility, many require an in-house stay. Some last only a few days and can be done on weekends; others can require two stays of up to 10 days each.
Hendy says the Novum facility attempts to make participants feel at home.
Novum has been in the clinical research business for more than 30 years and also has facilities in Pittsburgh and Houston. Last year, more than 5,000 people participated in its studies, and the company paid out nearly $3.8 million - almost $1 million of it in the Las Vegas Valley.
While the studies are open to anyone who meets the requirements, they generally appeal to three groups, Hendy says: people looking for an income or supplement; those wanting money before the holidays or for a vacation; and those who have a temporary cash crunch.
"I really hate to categorize beyond that because we spread across the whole population," he says.
"I also think people do it for some altruistic sense as well. The studies that we do generally help generic products get approved, and that keeps everyone's health care costs down."
Earning a steady income would be difficult because participants must wait 30 days between studies.
The studies at Novum can be lucrative for participants, but they represent only a piece of the clinical-research pie.
Many participants in another type of clinical research in the valley are motivated by both altruism and self-preservation. They volunteer their bodies for research with a much bigger payoff - a new lease on life.
Clinical Research Solutions on Maryland Parkway has been involved in clinical trials since 1998. Dr. Sheldon Freedman, a Las Vegas urologist for more than 20 years, has conducted more than 50 trials on conditions ranging from migraines to prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.
Unlike participants in the Novum studies, the people in Freedman's studies have a pre-existing condition. Their compensation comes in the form of a possible new treatment option or medication. Sometimes, participants can receive a nominal payment for expenses.
Sponsors are often pharmaceutical companies looking to test new or improved medications. Because Freedman's trials require participants to have a condition specific to the study, they are often more difficult to fill. Some sponsors will budget funds to advertise for a study, but Freedman also draws participants from among his patients.
"Most of them really enjoy being involved in the forefront of new forms of therapy, and they feel like they're contributing to our overall wealth of knowledge," he says.
Their participation may result in a breakthrough cancer treatment that can save lives or a new medication such as Viagra that can greatly improve the quality of life.
While motives and methods for research differ, many of the same rules apply to all studies.
The Food and Drug Administration governs clinical trials, and all trials must be approved by an Institutional Review Board. Participants can withdraw from any study at any time.
Whether it is a college student looking to earn a few extra bucks or a middle-aged man battling prostate cancer, experts say research study participants play an invaluable role in ensuring that potential treatment methods are both safe and effective.
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