Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
18/02/2011
European Medicines Agency reviews further data on narcolepsy and possible association with Pandemrix
Causal relationship not established; further study results awaited
The European Medicines Agency?s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has reviewed further data from Finland on the suspected link between narcolepsy in children and adolescents and Pandemrix. The Committee concluded that the new evidence added to the concern arising from case reports in Finland and Sweden, but that the data were still insufficient to establish a causal relationship between Pandemrix and narcolepsy. Further analyses and study results are awaited to clarify the observations in Finland.
In addition to the data from Finland, research is ongoing in Sweden where there has also been an unexpected number of narcolepsy reports following vaccination with Pandemrix. However, other non-Nordic countries have not seen similar increased rates of reporting of narcolepsy. Additionally in Canada, where there has been substantial use of this type of vaccine, there has been no evidence of an increase in reports of narcolepsy. Therefore, at present definitive conclusions cannot be drawn and no changes to the recommendations for use of Pandemrix are proposed.
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European Medicines Agency reviews further data on narcolepsy and possible association with Pandemrix
Causal relationship not established; further study results awaited
The European Medicines Agency?s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has reviewed further data from Finland on the suspected link between narcolepsy in children and adolescents and Pandemrix. The Committee concluded that the new evidence added to the concern arising from case reports in Finland and Sweden, but that the data were still insufficient to establish a causal relationship between Pandemrix and narcolepsy. Further analyses and study results are awaited to clarify the observations in Finland.
In addition to the data from Finland, research is ongoing in Sweden where there has also been an unexpected number of narcolepsy reports following vaccination with Pandemrix. However, other non-Nordic countries have not seen similar increased rates of reporting of narcolepsy. Additionally in Canada, where there has been substantial use of this type of vaccine, there has been no evidence of an increase in reports of narcolepsy. Therefore, at present definitive conclusions cannot be drawn and no changes to the recommendations for use of Pandemrix are proposed.
Read more