Takeda Says 'Human Error' Reason Behind Contaminated Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines

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  • Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd TAK blamed "human error" as the cause of metal contaminants found in some batches of Moderna Inc's MRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The contamination led to the withdrawal of 1.63 million doses of the mRNA shot from Japan in August.
  • Related Link: Moderna Withdraws Additional COVID-19 Shots In Japan: What You Need To Know.
  • According to Reuters, Takeda said in a new report that the Spanish factory where the vaccine was manufactured had discovered contaminants in some vials. 
  • Still, doses from the same production batch were allowed to be shipped to Japan.
  • Moderna and the Spanish manufacturer Rovi carried out an investigation found that the issue was caused by incorrect assembly due to a visual misjudgment of the required 1mm gap between the stopper lids on the vials and machinery that put the tops on vaccine vials.
  • A total of five lots of the vaccines were affected by the manufacturing issue, three of which were shipped to Japan after passing inspection before later being recalled.
  • Rovi held back the fourth and fifth lots after failing inspection on July 2.
  • However, contaminants were later found inside at least 39 vials in Japan in late August, and testing showed that the particles were stainless steel.
  • Price Action: TAK shares are down 0.12% at $16.36, and MRNA shares are down 5.76% at $362.70 during the premarket session on the last check Friday.
  • Image by Spencer Davis from Pixabay
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