(Eagle News) — Senator Richard Gordon on Thursday revealed he was “approached” by Sanofi so they could have a meeting with him.
“But I’m sorry, I’m not going to meet with them. It’s not advisable and not timely to do so knowing what I read,” Gordon said, apparently referring to the reports of bribery and false claims, among others, that have hounded Sanofi in other parts of the world.
He said the French ambassador also “happen(ed) to make a call.”
“And I did tell him I was going to make a privilege speech on Sanofi that day for full transparency,” Gordon said.
“The government or (then Health Secretary Janette) Garin should have been more circumspect in dealing with Sanofi considering they are … salesmen,” he added.
Gordon, the Senate blue ribbon committee chair, is leading the investigation into the Dengvaxia snafu..
The snafu started when Sanofi, the vaccine manufacturer, admitted the drug could cause “severe cases” in people who have not had dengue.
Over 800,000 schoolchildren have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia under the government’s vaccination program in 2016, during the term of former President Benigno Aquino III.
In its defense, Sanofi said the data came to light only after the recent completion of several studies.