India to destroy 27M doses of BCG vaccine as shortages loom elsewhere

Even as some countries are scrambling to prevent a shortage of the BCG tuberculosis vaccine, India is seeking permission to destroy 27 million doses of the drug that languished on shelves until after their expiration date. Pharmbiz reports that there is nothing wrong with the vaccine but that the country did not get around to using it before its expiration in 2009 and now is fighting with a pollution board over approval to use a water treatment facility to dispose of the live bacteria. The disclosure comes only weeks after authorities in Australia and Canada have indicated they expect a shortage of the vaccine because a Sanofi-Pasteur plant in Toronto had to stop production after mold was found in sterile manufacturing areas. Sanofi ($SNY) has indicated that it does not expect to resume supplying BCG until the end of next year. Story | More