FRENCH PHARMACEUTICAL firm Sanofi Pasteur, manufacturer of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine, again declined on Monday the request of the Department of Health (DoH) to refund the amount for the used anti-dengue serum.

“We stand firmly behind our product. Refunding the used doses of Dengvaxia would imply that the vaccine is ineffective, which is not the case. And at this time, there is also no known circumstance requiring indemnification,” Sanofi Pasteur said in a statement.

The drug manufacturer previously refused the same request of the DoH during a House hearing on Feb. 5, but refunded last month P1.6 billion for the unused doses of the vaccine.

PhilStar.com reported that the DoH has tapped the help of the Office of the Solicitor General for building a civil case against the French company.

Meanwhile, the camp of lawyer Manuelito R. Luna and two non-government organizations — Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution, Inc. — yesterday filed before the Department of Justice a request for a subpoenae duces tecum (SDT) for documents relative to the procurement of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The same groups last week charged former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III, some of his Cabinet members, and officials of the DoH with graft, technical malversation, and criminal negligence. — Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

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