VOA标准英语2009年-Nigeria, Pfizer in Settlement Talks Over Drug T

The Nigerian prosecutor¹ in multi-billion dollar lawsuits² against Pfizer says reaching an out-of-court settlement depends on Pfizer's acceptance of the government's final terms to end charges against the U.S. pharmaceutical³ giant.

According to the lawyer representing Nigeria, Babatunde Irukera, some progress has been achieved in settlement talks with Pfizer. But he denied reports that an agreement has been reached.

"There is a newspaper publication today that announces a settlement and even states amounts of money to be given to who and all that and Kano's state's position is that this is not the case," said Irukera. "We will not deny there has been very, very serious discussions and that there is a possibility of a resolution. But to say that one has been reached is completely untrue."
　
Abu Madaki, holds her daughter, tested with meningitis epidemic⁴ experimental drug and now suffering physical disability and brain damage in Kano, Nigeria (File)

The federal government and the northern state of Kano are suing Pfizer for a combined $8.5 billion and pressing criminal charges over the 1996 testing of the drug Trovan on Nigerian children in Kano during a meningitis outbreak.

Eleven children are alleged⁵ to have died after taking Trovan, which is alleged to have caused deformities such as blindness, deafness, brain damage and paralysis⁶ in 189 others.

The Nigerian government also alleges⁷ that Pfizer failed to obtain all the required approvals for the trial and did not get proper consent of the patients' families.

Pfizer rejects all the charges. It says Trovan saved lives and the alleged victims were affected⁸ by meningitis, not the drug. The drug manufacturing giant says the trial was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government.

Nigeria and Pfizer representatives have been negotiating an out-of-court settlement since last year. Pfizer officials say a settlement process was ongoing⁹ and the company is keen to stay at the negotiating table until an agreement was reached. The case against Pfizer in Kano has been adjourned¹⁰ until early April to allow for a deal.

In January, a New York-based court ruled that Nigerian families can sue Pfizer in U.S. courts, overturning rulings by a lower court.

1 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

2 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

3 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

4 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

7 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

10 adjourned   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后，审讯就宣告暂停。