IT is a pity that Mr Les Rose (Postbag, February 26) took such a narrow view of the problems the proposed European clinical trials directive would pose to charitably funded work.

If this directive as orginally drafted goes ahead on May 1, it will do incalculable damage to academic-led (not for profit) clinical trials, run for the benefit of patients with a wide range of diseases.

Academic clinical trials funded by charity in this country have led to the discovery of important new treatments - discoveries that otherwise might not have been made.

Mr Rose is concerned that such trials might be unsafe for patients if they follow a different set of standards from the pharmaceutical industry.

I can assure him that the trials we have conducted in collaboration with our colleagues at Cancer Research UK and the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study Group have been of the highest standard, have complied fully with current UK regulations and have proven safe for the patients we have treated.

At the heart of the Leukaemia Busters campaign is our genuine concern for the lives and well-being of children and adults with incurable forms of leukaemia.

Patient safety and trial quality are given the highest priority - but these can be achieved without the stringent regulations expected of the pharmaceutical industry.

Mr Rose might not be aware of moves in London and Brussels by officials seeking to ameliorate the effects of the new directive on academic trials.

The department of health has been working with the Medical Research Council and many charities, including this one, to ensure their work is not inadvertently derailed by new European regulations.

We have carefully pursued the goal of developing new treatments and have had tremendous public support over the years.

We were the first organisation in Britain safely to take an antibody treatment into children with relapsed leukaemia.

Mr Rose could perhaps consider adding his voice of support to our campaign, instead of doing us the disservice of misleading Journal readers into thinking we might be some sort of maverick organization.

I should like to thank all those readers who have kindly signed our petition. Anyone who wishes to add their name to the petition can do so on our website, at www.leukaemiabusters. org.uk/SOCTCampaign.htm.

DAVID J FLAVELL (Dr)

Honorary Scientific Director

Leukaemia Busters