Sanofi Pasteur exec willing to go to jail if bribery raps proven

Sanofi Pasteur representative Thomas Triomphe. NOY MORCOSO/INQUIRER.net

A Sanofi Pasteur executive said on Wednesday he was willing to be jailed in the Philippines if it would be proven that bribe money changed hands in the mass purchase of its anti-dengue vaccine.

Responding to Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves Jr.’s question, Sanofi Pasteur Asia Pacific head Thomas Triomphe said he would be willing to be jailed in the Philippines if allegations of corruption, bribery or kickbacks would be proven.

“You have been insinuating that there were no underground or on-the-side transactions or deals regarding in this transaction, right?” Teves asked during the relaunch of the House committee on good government and public accountability hearing on the government’s botched dengue immunization drive.

“If there is anybody in the Philippines who would testify that, indeed, that there was a side dealing to this transaction, are you willing to be jailed in the Philippines?” he added.

To which Triomphe answered: “I am, your honor.”

The company executive, however, maintained that there was “no evidence” that such wrongdoing transpired and Sanofi Pasteur always follow a country’s regulations.

The pharmaceutical giant was put in hot seat following its November 29 advisory that its vaccine, Dengvaxia, can cause severe dengue for those vaccinated who have no previous history of the illness and acquired it after getting immunized.

Reports also surfaced that former Health Secretary Janette Garin had met with Sanofi Pasteur officials in Paris, France in 2015 to discuss with the pharmaceutical firm’s now-controversial dengue vaccine.