DOH to file civil case vs. Sanofi Pasteur over Dengvaxia

The Department of Health (DOH) will file a civil case against French drug manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur over their non-disclosure of the restrictions of the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, a report on GMA News TV's News To Go said Tuesday.

Apart from the vaccine's ineffectiveness, the DOH will also hold Sanofi Pasteur accountable for withholding the fact that Dengvaxia may cause severe dengue in individuals who have yet to contract dengue.

DOH is also mulling if it will also prepare charges against Dengvaxia's Philippine distributor, Zuellig Pharma Corporation Philippines.

In December 2017, Health Secretary Francisco Duque II said they will eventually sue Sanofi Pasteur over Dengvaxia.

On Monday, Sanofi declined another request by the DOH to refund the used doses of the dengue vaccine and provide an indemnification fund for Dengvaxia recipients.

In a statement, the company said, "As we did in our previous reply to the DOH on 5 February, 2018, we respectfully declined both requests."

"We stand firmly behind our product. Refunding the used doses of Dengvaxia would imply that the vaccine is ineffective, which is not the case," it added. — Rie Takumi/RSJ, GMA News