Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta on Sunday lauded the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for upholding a civil suit for damages filed against French pharmaceutical Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and its distributor Zuellig Pharma Corp. in connection with the death of a child after receiving Dengvaxia vaccine shots.
“The judge was right since there is already a hypothetical admission on the part of Sanofi and Zuellig,” she told Manila Standard in a text message when asked to comment.
Branch 226 Judge Manuel Sta. Cruz Jr. rejected the motions to dismiss the case filed against Sanofi and Zuellig Pharma executives.
He affirmed that the complaint filed by the parents of 13-year-old Abbie Hedia had sufficient basis.
Hedia died on Feb. 10, 2018.
“Hypothetically admitting the mentioned allegations together with other facts alleged in the complaint, the court may render judgment upon the same,” the court order read.
The judge ordered Sanofi officers Carlito Realuyo, Conchita Santos, Jazel Anne Calvo, and Pearl Grace Cabali to file their respective reply within five days upon receipt of the order.
Hedia’s kin said in the complaint that Sanofi manufactured the Dengvaxia vaccine despite it being unsafe since it was still in the clinical trial state.
Moreover, they claimed Sanofi failed to inform the public of the risks of Dengvaxia either through safety warnings, instructions or indication of use or through product label.