Taiwan: Taiwan vaccine maker Adimmune Corp. could face a fine of up to NT$2 million (US$61,556) if it is found to have violated lab safety regulations, Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan stated following reports of a rat-related sanitation breach at one of its facilities last year.

According to Focus Taiwan, a report by Mirror Media revealed that a whistleblower from Adimmune disclosed that 120 lab rats were left without care for three days in 12 cages by a female vaccine developer during Typhoon Gaemi in late July 2024. Employees returning after the typhoon holiday discovered the lab filled with a strong odor due to accumulated mouse dander, urine, and feces.

The report further indicated that lab managers did not report the incident to their superiors, nor did they disinfect the lab or discipline the responsible employee, potentially risking wider contamination. In response, Adimmune stated that the incident occurred at a vaccine research lab, separate from its production lines or quality control labs. The company clarified that all animals were moved to a specialized facility in Nantou County following the typhoon and were not used in any subsequent vaccine-related activities.

During a Legislative meeting, Health Minister Chiu mentioned that the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) had dispatched officials to inspect the lab to ascertain the facts. If Adimmune is found to have breached Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), it might face a fine ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$2 million under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

Chiu assured that the risk of vaccine contamination was minimal, emphasizing that finished vaccines undergo an 11-step inspection process by the TFDA before reaching the public. Adimmune is among five companies authorized to manufacture or distribute flu vaccines in Taiwan, alongside TTY Biopharm, Medigen Vaccine Biological Corp., and the Taiwan branches of Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).