Canada to supply varicella postexposure prophylaxis.(Obstetrics)

The dwindling U.S. supply of varicella-zoster immune globulin has been replenished with a new unlicensed product made available under a Food and Drug Administration investigational new drug application, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An expanded access protocol for VariZIG (Cangene Corporation, Winnipeg, Canada) was granted in February as supplies of the only licensed U.S. varicella-zoster immune globulin (VZIG) product began to run out, following its discontinuation last October by the manufacturer, Public Health Biologic Laboratories of Boston.

VariZIG is intended for patients without evidence of immunity who have been exposed to varicella and who are at increased risk for severe disease and complications. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends it for the following groups:

* Immunocompromised patients.

* Neonates whose mothers have signs and symptoms of varicella around the time of delivery (5 days before to 2 days after).

* Premature infants born at or after 28 weeks of gestation who are exposed during the neonatal period and whose mothers do not have evidence of immunity.

* Premature infants born before 28 weeks of gestation or who weigh 1,000 g or more at birth and were exposed during the neonatal period, regardless of maternal history of varicella disease or vaccination.