FILE PHOTO: The controversial dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia
MANILA, Philippines – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is likely to extend the ban on marketing and sales of Dengvaxia, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
December 29 this year marks the first year since the license of French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur was suspended; banning its sale of Dengvaxia in the country.
The DOH believes that since the controversy on the anti-dengue vaccine is not yet closed, the ban on sale of Dengvaxia still remains.
“Iyong one-year suspension ng Dengvaxia CPR is not yet lifted and I do not see it being lifted anytime soon. We still have a lot of pending issues with the vaccine and at this time we do not see it being registered and allowed for marketing in the Philippines…regulatory issues and cases in Court,” said DOH Spokesperson Usec. Eric Domingo.
It will be recalled that the FDA suspended Sanofi for not submitting its post-marketing authorization requirements which were supposed to prove that the products manufactured by the pharmaceutical company are safe to use.
Sanofi also couldn’t assure the safety of Dengvaxia, according to DOH.
The DOH noted that in November 29, 2017, Sanofi released a statement that Dengvaxia is not advisable to be administered to seronegative recipients —children or adults—who never had dengue infection prior to injection for the reason that their cases are likely to develop into severe dengue.
“It cannot be used without testing for children if they had dengue before. And there are no available testing kits commercially to do that. We don’t see naman any use for the vaccine at this time,” Domingo said.
The DOH also argued that the even regulatory agencies in the world that were granted with licenses to use Dengvaxia such as in Brazil, have set restrictions on the use of Dengvaxia on children who never had dengue infection prior to injection.
Hindi na rin sila magbibigay without screening,” Domingo said.
Based on the latest findings of the DOH, about 24 to 25 cases of dengue infection led to death due to severe dengue.
“We’ve seen talagang meron tayong patients who have, na ang mortality nila was due to severe dengue and I think probably from talagang seronegative patients iyon,” the health official said.
Meanwhile, the DOH is still waiting for the approval of Congress regarding the supplemental budget for vaccinees from the refund that Sanofi gave which reached P1.16-B.
Domingo said before the end of the year, the Office of the Solicitor General is likely to file a case against Sanofi Pasteur in line with the Dengvaxia controversy. – Marje Pelayo (with reports from Aiko Miguel)
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