Japan suspends the use of some Pfizer, Sanofi vaccines

By Shawn Schroter

Dow Jones Newswires
 

TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- Japan's health ministry said it has temporarily suspended the use of Prevnar, made by Pfizer Inc. (PFE), and ActHIB, made by Sanofi- Aventis S.A. (SNY), as it investigates whether the deaths of four children are linked to the pediatric vaccines.
 

The children, whose ages range between six months and two years old, died after receiving either Prevnar, ActHIB or a combination of vaccinations, the ministry said in a statement. The deaths were reported between March 2-4.
 

Prevnar is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, while ActHIB is a type b haemophilus influenzae vaccine.

In 2009, Pfizer suspended distribution and quarantined a batch of Prevnar in the Netherlands following reports of the deaths of three infants around the time of vaccination.

The health ministry said that the suspension will be in place pending the results of an investigation made by a group of medical experts into the deaths that is expected to be released on March 8.

Pfizer "thoroughly evaluates all reported cases and works closely with health authorities to determine if there is any association with use of our medicines and vaccines," a Pfizer spokeswoman said Monday, noting that the health ministry has posed a number of questions to the drug maker and it is in the process of preparing responses to those inquiries.
 

She added that based on the company's evaluation, the Prevnar doses administered in the four cases were from three separate lots.
 

A spokesman for Sanofi said that his company is also awaiting the finding of the panel of experts and that it is not planning to recall ActHIB at this time.

-By Shawn Schroter, Dow Jones Newswires; Skype: +81-3-6269-2770; shawn.schroter@ dowjones.com +81-3-6269-2770

(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-07-110108ET
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