Viatris Pharmaceuticals Opens Website for School Personnel Following Administrative Notice on Administering "Spydia® Nasal Spray" for Epileptic Seizures in Schools

Following the administrative notice issued on April 16, 2026, by the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), titled "On the Administration of Diazepam Nasal Solution (Spydia®) During Epileptic Seizures in Schools, etc." (hereinafter, "this Administrative Notice"), guidelines have been set forth for teachers and other staff to administer Viatris Pharmaceutical's intranasal anti-seizure medication, "Spydia® Nasal Spray 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg" (generic name: diazepam, hereinafter, "Spydia"), during epileptic seizures in schools. In response to the issuance of this Administrative Notice, Viatris Pharmaceutical G.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Sona Kim) is pleased to announce the opening of a website for school personnel. This website aims to assist school/nursery school staff who receive inquiries from patients' families about Spydia, helping them understand and confirm how to use the medication. Through this site, we will provide practical and easy-to-understand information, including guidance on appropriate usage, points to note during administration, and support for daily management. https://spydia.jp/educators/ This Administrative Notice is based on the response (Notification from the Director of the Medical Affairs Division, Health Policy Bureau, MHLW; Isei Ihatsu 0415 Dai 1 Go, April 15, Reiwa 8) to an inquiry made by MEXT, etc., to the Medical Affairs Division, Health Policy Bureau, MHLW, regarding the administration of Spydia® Nasal Spray by school personnel on behalf of students during epileptic seizures in schools, after-school children's healthy upbringing programs, after-school children's classrooms, etc. ■ Inquiry from MEXT, etc. (as per original text) It is assumed that in cases where infants, children, students, or university students (hereinafter, "children, etc.") enrolled in or using schools, nursery schools, certified children's centers, family-based childcare services, after-school children's healthy upbringing programs, short-term childcare support programs, child-rearing support base programs, after-school children's classrooms, unauthorized childcare facilities, independent living support programs for children, child development support, after-school day services, etc. (hereinafter, "schools, etc."), experience an epileptic seizure and are in a life-threatening condition, etc., school personnel including teachers or staff (hereinafter, "school personnel, etc.") present at the scene may administer diazepam nasal solution ("Spydia®") on behalf of the individual who cannot administer it themselves. Can this act be interpreted as not violating Article 17 of the Medical Practitioners' Act (Act No. 201 of 1948) as an unavoidable emergency measure, if the following four conditions are met? ① The child, etc., and their guardian have received written instructions from a doctor in advance regarding the following points: The necessity of using diazepam nasal solution in schools, etc., as an unavoidable measure for the child, etc. Points to note when using diazepam nasal solution. ② The child, etc., and their guardian have specifically requested the school, etc., to use diazepam nasal solution for the child, etc., in unavoidable circumstances (including explaining by providing the written instructions regarding points to note when using diazepam nasal solution received from the doctor). ③ The school personnel, etc., in charge of the child, etc., use diazepam nasal solution with attention to the following points: Reconfirming that the child, etc., is the individual for whom the use of diazepam nasal solution is deemed unavoidably necessary. Complying with the instructions written in the document regarding points to note when using diazepam nasal solution. ④ The guardian or school personnel, etc., of the child, etc., must ensure that the child, etc., sees a medical institution after administering diazepam nasal solution. ■ Response from the Medical Affairs Division, Health Policy Bureau, MHLW to the above inquiry (as per original text) As you suggest. Furthermore, we strongly request that sufficient consideration be given to protecting the privacy of children, etc., when carrying out a series of actions. In response to this notice, Ms. Ruby Kuroiwa, representative of the Dravet Syndrome Patient Family Association for intractable epilepsy, commented as follows: "We sincerely welcome the issuance of this administrative notice, which allows childcare workers and school personnel to use Spydia Nasal Spray in emergencies in childcare and educational settings. As families raising children with intractable epilepsy, including Dravet Syndrome, we welcome this with all our hearts. Seizures associated with intractable epilepsy, including Dravet Syndrome, are sudden and sometimes life-threatening. When a seizure occurs in a nursery, kindergarten, or school, having an environment where immediate necessary action can be taken is a huge step towards ensuring children can live their daily lives with peace of mind and alleviating families' worries, even a little. This decision contributes to both the safety of children and the reduction of the burden on school staff. We express our deep gratitude to all childcare workers and school personnel who continuously engage with understanding and responding to children (or preschoolers) and students with epilepsy and their families. We also express our respect to all stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to create this system."