World | clinical trials Volunteer in Botched French Drug Trial Dies Man in Biotrial clinical trial had been declared brain-dead By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Jan 17, 2016 9:05 AM CST Copied French Health Minister Marisol Touraine and Professor Gilles Edan, chief neuroscientist at Rennes Hospital, address the media, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. (AP Photo/David Vincent) A French hospital says a patient has died after taking part in an experimental drug trial, and five other participants remain hospitalized. The Rennes University Hospital said in a statement that the patient, who had already been in a state of brain death, died Sunday. The statement says the hospital has contacted the 84 other volunteers exposed to the new painkiller, based on a natural brain compound similar to the active ingredient in marijuana. Ten of those volunteers underwent medical exams Saturday but the hospital found no anomalies, the statement says. French health authorities have said three of the hospitalized volunteers face possible brain damage. An investigation is underway into what happened. Click for more. Read These Next North Carolina shooting suspect once walked the red carpet. The gunman who killed 4 at a Michigan church was an ex-marine. 'We heard a big bang,' says churchgoer in Michigan Skydivers leap from plane 2 minutes before fatal crash. Report an error