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SINGAPORE - Bruce is a full-time lab rat. Or, as he easily describes it, a "medical guinea pig".
Pharmaceutical firms and hospitals call him whenever they want to test new products or drugs. And he happily answers the call.
Why? According to him, the money is good. In all, he says he has completed about 20 trials since 2004, and claims to have made over $40,000 through them.
In fact, 80 per cent of his income comes from participating in clinical trials.
In between, the 40-something bachelor takes on odd jobs, works as a part-time production operator, wraps hampers and even "helps out with events".
He has a diploma in electrical engineering from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, but says he prefers the lifestyle that this "job" gives him.
"Most people just work and go home, work and go home. But I'm easy-going and carefree.
"My life is so relaxing, I sometimes feel I don't want to work at all."
Despite his nonchalance, he does not want his photo taken nor his real name used - because his extended family "might find out".
Savings wise, he also only has $3,000 in the bank. Still, he maintains, it is a good life.
"I don't need much money anyway. When there is a trial, I get food, lodging."
During his stay at the medical facility, he can watch up to seven movies a day on his laptop.
He recounts how he started.
"Back in 2004, my friend told me that if I signed up for a clinical trial, I could earn more than a thousand dollars. So I signed up and it was okay."
He was paid $1,300 for that two-week trial. "You can get hooked on it because it's very easy money."
By 2006, he had quit his full-time technician job of more than 10 years, which earned him $1,500 a month repairing factory machines - a job he described as "tiring".
His most lucrative trial was in 2008, for which he was paid $5,000 for a month's "work".
Being a "full-time" lab rat involves taking a break for a month or two in between each clinical trial - as recommended by guidelines - and doing odd jobs to supplement his income.
Most days, Bruce spends his time watching movies, hanging out in bookstores, libraries or cafeterias.
There are about 10 regulars like him on the clinical trial circuit, he says.
Doctors and scientists The New Paper on Sunday approached say that in some clinical trials, healthy human subjects are used to check how drugs are absorbed by the body, how well they work and whether there are side effects.
This is different from clinical trials in which sick individuals are given opportunities to be treated using experimental drugs that can possibly save their lives.
When healthy people volunteer, they are usually compensated for taking time to be part of the trial, say people familiar with the process.
Safety the topmost priority
Participants come from all walks of life - security guards, insurance and property agents, even company directors.
In a trial, the participants' safety is the topmost priority. Guidelines are followed and trials have to be approved by the hospitals' ethics board and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) if they involve medicinal products.
The risks must be clearly explained to the volunteers, who must give informed consent and are free to quit at any time.
According to the volunteers, the regime is simple. During the trials, they stay at the medical facility.
After they consume the drug, blood and urine samples are taken from them at regular intervals. They may also go through electro-cardiograms and blood pressure tests.
Supplementary tests are conducted throughout the week.
Everything is done to make them as comfortable as possible during the trials, participants say.
For example, they are free to watch DVDs, read, play board games or go online during the trial period - which can last as little as three days or stretch up to 21 days.
Once the trial ends, depending on its nature, there is a "medical washout" period for the body to replenish the amount of blood lost, and to make sure the study's drug is excreted from the body.
Money usually the motivation
In a statement, the HSA says it issued 250 certificates for organisations to conduct clinical trails last year, up from 157 in 2000. There are about 350 ongoing trials, adds the spokesman.
Explains Associate Professor Chng Wee Joo from the National University Cancer Institute: "The participation of healthy volunteers in early phase clinical trials are also critical for the development of drugs, many which may eventually benefit patients with different diseases."
But altruism isn't quite what some volunteers have in mind.
Prof Chng, a senior consultant at the institute's department of haematology-oncology, acknowledges that in the case of healthy individuals who sign up for trials involving non-cancer drugs, the motivation is likely to be money.
For their time, participants say they are paid about $2,000, but some longer-lasting trials can earn them up to $6,900.
One regular participant, Benjamin (not his real name), 27, says: "There's nothing difficult about it. If you are the sort who wants freedom all the time, then these medical studies are not for you."
The bank officer - who earns $3,000 a month - has been involved in five clinical tests in the last three to four years.
In 2008, he was paid $6,000 for taking part in a 21-day medical trial to test the effects of a migraine drug.
Family doesn't know
Does his family object to him subjecting his healthy body to medical experiments?
"My family doesn't know about the trials that I sign up for," replies Benjamin, who is married.
"I don't want them to worry . Besides, the drugs I take at these trials are out on the market and everything is safe."
Prof Chng however warns about the long-term effects of taking part in clinical trials. "We haven't had a chance to see what the long-term effects are, because the patients have just started taking the drug."
Of course, precautions are taken to ensure that the risk is minimal. "But there are still risks," he adds.
Bruce is adamant that his lifestyle is fine. Likening clinical trials to blood donation drives, he adds: "Both draw blood from your body... and since your body generates new blood, you will get healthier."
"I don't think the effects are long-lasting. Once you stop taking the pills, the effect is no longer there."
Still, he admits that his parents weren't too happy about him being a professional lab rat.
"The traditional mindset is that if a healthy person is taking drugs, he is courting death," says Bruce.
"My parents said hospitals are for sick people. If I'm well, why should I go there?
"But it's my life. This is the fastest way to make money."
Pharmaceutical firms and hospitals call him whenever they want to test new products or drugs. And he happily answers the call.
Why? According to him, the money is good. In all, he says he has completed about 20 trials since 2004, and claims to have made over $40,000 through them.
In fact, 80 per cent of his income comes from participating in clinical trials.
In between, the 40-something bachelor takes on odd jobs, works as a part-time production operator, wraps hampers and even "helps out with events".
He has a diploma in electrical engineering from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, but says he prefers the lifestyle that this "job" gives him.
"Most people just work and go home, work and go home. But I'm easy-going and carefree.
"My life is so relaxing, I sometimes feel I don't want to work at all."
Despite his nonchalance, he does not want his photo taken nor his real name used - because his extended family "might find out".
Savings wise, he also only has $3,000 in the bank. Still, he maintains, it is a good life.
"I don't need much money anyway. When there is a trial, I get food, lodging."
During his stay at the medical facility, he can watch up to seven movies a day on his laptop.
He recounts how he started.
"Back in 2004, my friend told me that if I signed up for a clinical trial, I could earn more than a thousand dollars. So I signed up and it was okay."
He was paid $1,300 for that two-week trial. "You can get hooked on it because it's very easy money."
By 2006, he had quit his full-time technician job of more than 10 years, which earned him $1,500 a month repairing factory machines - a job he described as "tiring".
His most lucrative trial was in 2008, for which he was paid $5,000 for a month's "work".
Being a "full-time" lab rat involves taking a break for a month or two in between each clinical trial - as recommended by guidelines - and doing odd jobs to supplement his income.
Most days, Bruce spends his time watching movies, hanging out in bookstores, libraries or cafeterias.
There are about 10 regulars like him on the clinical trial circuit, he says.
Doctors and scientists The New Paper on Sunday approached say that in some clinical trials, healthy human subjects are used to check how drugs are absorbed by the body, how well they work and whether there are side effects.
This is different from clinical trials in which sick individuals are given opportunities to be treated using experimental drugs that can possibly save their lives.
When healthy people volunteer, they are usually compensated for taking time to be part of the trial, say people familiar with the process.
Safety the topmost priority
Participants come from all walks of life - security guards, insurance and property agents, even company directors.
In a trial, the participants' safety is the topmost priority. Guidelines are followed and trials have to be approved by the hospitals' ethics board and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) if they involve medicinal products.
The risks must be clearly explained to the volunteers, who must give informed consent and are free to quit at any time.
According to the volunteers, the regime is simple. During the trials, they stay at the medical facility.
After they consume the drug, blood and urine samples are taken from them at regular intervals. They may also go through electro-cardiograms and blood pressure tests.
Supplementary tests are conducted throughout the week.
Everything is done to make them as comfortable as possible during the trials, participants say.
For example, they are free to watch DVDs, read, play board games or go online during the trial period - which can last as little as three days or stretch up to 21 days.
Once the trial ends, depending on its nature, there is a "medical washout" period for the body to replenish the amount of blood lost, and to make sure the study's drug is excreted from the body.
Money usually the motivation
In a statement, the HSA says it issued 250 certificates for organisations to conduct clinical trails last year, up from 157 in 2000. There are about 350 ongoing trials, adds the spokesman.
Explains Associate Professor Chng Wee Joo from the National University Cancer Institute: "The participation of healthy volunteers in early phase clinical trials are also critical for the development of drugs, many which may eventually benefit patients with different diseases."
But altruism isn't quite what some volunteers have in mind.
Prof Chng, a senior consultant at the institute's department of haematology-oncology, acknowledges that in the case of healthy individuals who sign up for trials involving non-cancer drugs, the motivation is likely to be money.
For their time, participants say they are paid about $2,000, but some longer-lasting trials can earn them up to $6,900.
One regular participant, Benjamin (not his real name), 27, says: "There's nothing difficult about it. If you are the sort who wants freedom all the time, then these medical studies are not for you."
The bank officer - who earns $3,000 a month - has been involved in five clinical tests in the last three to four years.
In 2008, he was paid $6,000 for taking part in a 21-day medical trial to test the effects of a migraine drug.
Family doesn't know
Does his family object to him subjecting his healthy body to medical experiments?
"My family doesn't know about the trials that I sign up for," replies Benjamin, who is married.
"I don't want them to worry . Besides, the drugs I take at these trials are out on the market and everything is safe."
Prof Chng however warns about the long-term effects of taking part in clinical trials. "We haven't had a chance to see what the long-term effects are, because the patients have just started taking the drug."
Of course, precautions are taken to ensure that the risk is minimal. "But there are still risks," he adds.
Bruce is adamant that his lifestyle is fine. Likening clinical trials to blood donation drives, he adds: "Both draw blood from your body... and since your body generates new blood, you will get healthier."
"I don't think the effects are long-lasting. Once you stop taking the pills, the effect is no longer there."
Still, he admits that his parents weren't too happy about him being a professional lab rat.
"The traditional mindset is that if a healthy person is taking drugs, he is courting death," says Bruce.
"My parents said hospitals are for sick people. If I'm well, why should I go there?
"But it's my life. This is the fastest way to make money."
