The First Immune clinic in Bussigny, run by local company Immuno Biotech, has been closed down while the Swiss authorities look into its operation and practices.

Switzerland's medicines regulator, Swissmedic, claimed that the GcMaf it had been supplying to the clinic's patients was not authorised in the country.

However, Immuno Biotech chief executive David Noakes, pictured, said there was no link between any deaths and the protein product and he believed that it was licensed.