J&J has been under fire for months due to a series of serious manufacturing problems and phantom recalls with some of its flagship consumer brands such as Tylenol and Motrin. Senior executives have resigned or been replaced in the wake of these problems and consumer confidence in the brand has been shaken.
Now, J&J reports that its big $2.41 B move into the vaccine market through its pending acquisition of Crucell has uncovered some addtional manufacturing problems. Crucell NV of The Netherlands said it is temporarily holding all shipments of two vaccines at its Shingal facility because of possible contamination.
Crucell is a major vaccine supplier to UNICEF and developing countries. It also develops medicines that use antibodies to zero in on organisms causing infectious diseases. It currently sells vaccines targeting respiratory infections, diseases that strike children and travelers, and diseases common in developing countries, such as malaria, cholera and typhoid.
J&J is now looking into possible contamination issues at Crucell's South Korean drug facility. Maybe Crucell can return the favor by looking into happenings at J&J's Ft. Washington plant.
Can't anybody play this game?
Posted by Bruce Lehr October 30th 2010.
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