PMDA Chief Resigns In Wake Of Hepatitis C Controversy
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Former Japan Pharmaceutical and Food Bureau Chief, Akira Miyajima, resigned on Jan. 17 as CEO of the Pharmaceutics and Medical Devices Agency. His resignation is believed to be an effort to take responsibility for brushing aside a list of hepatitis C cases caused by contaminated blood products, and failing to notify patients about the information (PharmAsia News, Jan. 17, 2008). In August 2002, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare received a list from pharmaceutical companies of the cases of 418 hepatitis C patients; the information included duration of drug administration and each patient's symptoms. However, the list was not delivered to the patients themselves. It is believed that the failure to transmit this information led to a worsening in the cases. (click here for more - may require subscription