A new product (VariZIG) for postexposure prophylaxis of varicella available under an investigational new drug application expanded access protocol

On October 27, 2004, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was informed by the only U.S.-licensed manufacturer of varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) (Massachusetts Public Health Biologic Laboratories, Boston, Massachusetts) that the company had discontinued production of VZIG. The supply of the licensed VZIG product is now nearly depleted. In February 2006, an investigational (not licensed) VZIG product, VariZIG (Cangene Corporation, Winnipeg, Canada) became available under an investigational new drug application (IND) submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product can be requested from the sole authorized U.S. distributor, FFF Enterprises (Temecula, California), for patients who have been exposed to varicella and who are at increased risk for severe disease and complications.