AP Features, March 23rd, 2007
Japan's government will investigate claims of abnormal behavior linked to the influenza drug Tamiflu to determine whether using it causes such problems in some flu patients, an official said Friday.
The decision came after Japanese doctors were warned earlier this week against prescribing Tamiflu to teenagers, following reports of several young patients exhibiting dangerous behavior after taking it. The manufacturer insists the drug is safe.
The Health Ministry had been skeptical about a possible link, but a series of injuries and deaths of teenagers in Japan prompted Administrative Vice Minister Tetsuo Tsuji to announce the fresh review, said ministry spokesman Yutaka Yokomizo.
The government's view of causal relationships may change depending on the study's results, according to Yokomizo.
"It is true that there are new suspicions. We want to be cautious by going over the assessment we made once again," Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa told reporters Friday.
The ministry issued emergency instructions Tuesday to a Japanese Tamiflu distributor, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., to warn doctors not to give the drug to teenagers.
Chugai began warning doctors, hospitals and pharmacies nationwide Wednesday.
Tamiflu, manufactured by Swiss company Roche Holding AG, is widely used in Japan to treat influenza. The government has also been stockpiling the drug for a possible bird flu pandemic.
Roche has said no causal relationship has been established between Tamiflu and reports of abnormal behavior.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Roche have also said that severe cases of flu can trigger the abnormal behavior displayed by some patients.
