Maldon couple to deny fabricating medical research data
Britain's first gay surrogate parents have appeared in court charged with fabricating medical research data.
Tony and Barrie Drewitt-Barlow of Chandlers Quay, Essex, are charged with failing to complete the necessary paperwork for cosmetic research trials.
They are also charged with letting participants take part in trials more than once at their firm, Euroderm.
Their lawyer said they will deny the charges at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on 29 September.
Tony Drewitt-Barlow, 45, who was a director of Euroderm, is charged with four counts of contravening the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 41, the company's former manager of clinical operations, is charged with two counts of the same allegation.
Three other people also appeared before the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court to face the same charges.
Mandie Mayes, 49, of Mill Road, Maldon, Essex, is charged with two counts.
Dr Alex Morgan, 64, of Corporation Street, north London and 56-year-old Dr David Shuttleworth, of Chappel Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex, were both charged with four counts each.
Euroderm, which went into liquidation in March 2008, conducted tests for dermatological and cosmetic products.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which is prosecuting the case, said it was the first case of its kind to go to court under the regulations.
In 1999 the Drewitt-Barlows became the first British same-sex couple to be named on their children's birth certificates.
Twins, Aspen and Saffron, were born to a surrogate mother in California.
Following a ruling by an American court they became the first British children to be registered as having two fathers and no mother.
Four years later the Drewitt-Barlows used the same egg donor and a different surrogate to have another child - Orlando.
Seven months ago the couple had twins again.
Dallas and Jasper were born to the same surrogate mother who carried Orlando.
The couple cemented their relationship with a civil partnership in 2006.