SOUTHAMPTON MEP Roy Perry says he'll fight to save the city's leading leukaemia charity threatened by new EU rules.

As reported in the Echo yesterday, Leukaemia Busters could see clinical trial costs soar from less than £50,000 to about £1m if new EU standards are implemented.

The prohibitive rises mean crucial studies into drugs for child leukaemia sufferers would not be able to go ahead.

The aim is to standardise all drug trials - from small, pioneering research units like Leukaemia Busters, to commercial, multi-national pharmaceutical companies - but many medical charities simply cannot afford to meet new requirements.

The consultation period with research doctors ended today.

Now Mr Perry says he'll do all he can to track the directive through the European Parliament and make changes.

"We could be many steps away from action so there are still opportunities to influence the specific regulations. I've now been alerted to the concern and I will be making investigations to see if there are ways in which we can influence procedures."

Dr David Flavell, scientific director at Southampton General Hospital based Leu-kaemia Busters, said there was "fear and anxiety" at the unit over the proposals.

Clinical trials were at the heart of the charity's work developing treatments for people with currently incurable forms of leukaemia.