Contaminated Fibrinogen Was Given To More Than 250 In Japan Even After Warning
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
A recent survey conducted by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that even after a warning about risk of contaminated blood product Fibrinogen had been issued, the products were still administrated to more than 250 patients nationwide. In June 1988, after a group infection of hepatitis in Aomori Prefecture began to spread, the drug's maker Green Cross Corp. (currently Tanabe Mitsubishi Pharmaceuticals) distributed the emergent safety information to medical facilities and recalled the majority of the products. However, according to a recent MHLW survey, among 8,711 cases identified, 266 people were administered the product from 1989 to 1994, when the warning had been issued. Tanabe Mitsubishi estimated that the number of patients who were given Fibrinogen is roughly 288,000. (Click for more-Japanese language