The drug, designed to fight leukaemia, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, was injected 15 times more quickly than when given to monkeys in animal studies, confidential documents have revealed.
Leading scientists believe this 'reckless' mistake could explain the horrendous reaction to the drug which left volunteers fighting for their lives.
The six young men - all fit and healthy before signing up for the March trial at Northwick Park Hospital in North-West London - suffered a host of side-effects, including pain, vomiting and organ failure.
Bar manager Mohamed 'Nino' Abdelhady, 28, was described as 'the Elephant Man' by his partner Myfanwy Marshall after his head swelled up.
Trainee plumber Ryan Wilson, 20, suffered heart, kidney and liver failure, pneumonia and blood poisoning and was in a coma for three weeks.
While in the coma, he suffered a frostbite-like reaction and has since lost parts of his fingers and had his toes amputated.
The volunteers, who are launching a multimillion pound damages claim against Parexel, the private research firm that ran the trial, face the risk of contracting cancer and other chronic and incurable diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
TeGenero, the company who were developing TGN1412, have already gone into liquidation.
The UK TV programme "Dispatches: The Drug Trial That Went Wrong" will be on Channel 4 this Thursday at 9pm.
Daily Mail
The Sunday Times has more detail.
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