Full Press Release Details
Announces that Government Investigation Rules Out Healive's Role in Child's
Autopsy Results Show the Death was Caused by Myocarditis -
Dec. 31 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NYSE Alternext US: SVA), a
leading provider of vaccines in China, today provided an update regarding the
suspension of the Company's inactivated hepatitis A vaccine Healive , following
a report of the death of a minor in the Fengtai District in the City of Beijing
on November 27, 2008. The Company learnt from authorities that according to the
autopsy results, the death was caused by myocarditis, an inflammation of the
muscular part of the heart generally due to a viral or bacterial infection. It
may cause chest pain, rapid signs of heart failure, or sudden death. The
administration of Healive was not a factor.
Xiaofeng Liang, director of National Planed Immunization Center of China CDC,
stated, "All vaccines available on the Chinese market are considered safe
products as they are produced and inspected through strict processes. It is
impossible to cause disease by vaccinating with inactivated
Weidong Yin, Chairman, President and CEO of Sinovac Biotech Ltd., commented,
"Although the autopsy results showed that the death of the minor was not related
to the administration of our vaccine, we are sorry for the family's loss. We are
confident about the safety profile of Healive as supported by the clinical
trials and the track record of vaccine administration following launch in 2002.
Since vaccination has proven to be the most effective and successful approach to
preventing diseases, we continue to supply our high quality vaccines in order to
improve public health and maximize shareholder value."
previously disclosed, the Health Services Bureau of Fengtai District in the City
of Beijing suspended the use of 83 doses of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine
Healive following a report of the death of a minor in the Fengtai District on
November 27, 2008, which coincided with the administration of the vaccine two
of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI)
to WHO, five types of adverse events may occur following the administration of a
preventative vaccine including: vaccine reaction, programme error, coincidental
event, injection reaction and unknown. A coincidental event is the event that
happens after immunization but is not caused by the vaccine.
Biotech Ltd. is a China-based biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the
research, development, manufacture and commercialization of vaccines that
protect against human infectious diseases. Sinovac's commercialized vaccines
include Healive (hepatitis A), Bilive (combined hepatitis A and B), Anflu
(influenza) and Panflu(TM) (H5N1). Sinovac is currently developing Universal
Pandemic Influenza vaccine and Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
information about Sinovac is available on its website, http://www.sinovac.com .
To be added to our distribution list, please email: info@sinovac.com
more information, please contact:
Tel: +86-10-8289-0088
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Tel: +1-646-536-7017/7033