Source:
https://scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2123335/philippines-sue-sanofi-over-dengue-vaccine-after-warning
Asia/ Southeast Asia

Philippines to sue Sanofi over dengue vaccine after warning triggers widespread concern for drug’s effectiveness

Regulators froze the world-first public immunisation programme last week and suspended all sales after the firm said Dengvaxia could worsen symptoms

Demonstrators hold up posters and shout slogans during a rally in front of the Department of Health office in Manila, following the suspension of the sale and distribution of Sanofi's dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. Photo: AFP

The Philippines intends to sue pharmaceutical giant Sanofi after authorities suspended its anti-dengue vaccine in response to the company warning the drug could lead to severe infections in some cases, the health secretary said on Thursday.

Regulators froze the Philippines’ world-first public dengue immunisation programme last week and suspended all sales of the vaccine on Monday after Sanofi said Dengvaxia could worsen symptoms for vaccinated people who contracted the disease for the first time.

“Eventually it’s the court of law that is going to decide in so far as the liability of Sanofi is concerned,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said on ABS-CBN television.

The previous administration of president Benigno Aquino launched the vaccination programme last year, making the Philippines the first nation to use Dengvaxia on a mass scale.

Vials of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia were recalled from local Philippine government health centres. Photo: AP
Vials of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia were recalled from local Philippine government health centres. Photo: AP

About 830,000 schoolchildren had received at least one dose of the vaccine, Duque said on Thursday. Previously the government said more than 733,000 people had been vaccinated.

Sanofi’s announcement last week caused great concern in the Philippines – where the mosquito-borne disease is extremely prevalent.

The French company on Monday sought to allay concerns, saying Dengvaxia would not cause anyone who was immunised to die and would not cause a dengue infection.

However, Duque said Sanofi’s recent statements on Dengvaxia were “confusing”.

Duque said he may ask Sanofi to refund 1.4 billion pesos (US$27.6 million) worth of unused Dengvaxia supplies.

Director of French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi for France, Guillaume Leroy. Photo: AFP
Director of French multinational pharmaceutical company Sanofi for France, Guillaume Leroy. Photo: AFP

He added the government might also demand Sanofi set up an “indemnity fund” to cover the hospitalisation cost for children vaccinated under the public programme who would fall ill.

Sanofi was not immediately available to comment on Duque’s remarks.

Asked if the government would sue Sanofi if allegations of a lack of transparency were proved, Duque said: “I’m sure it’s going to get there.”

He added: “If it’s found out that (Sanofi) withheld material information that would have changed the outcome of all of these problems and the decision makers of the Department of Health in the previous administration, then they are liable.”

Duque said congressional hearings into the issue would start next week.