Viatris Pharmaceutical Launches Website for School Personnel Following Administrative Notice on Administration of "Spydia® Nasal Spray" During Epileptic Seizures in Schools
Viatris Pharmaceutical G.K. has launched a website for school personnel following an administrative notice from the Cabinet Office, MEXT, and MHLW, which outlines guidelines for teachers to administer "Spydia® Nasal Spray" during epileptic seizures in schools. This initiative aims to provide proper guidance and support for emergency responses, enhancing the safety of students with epilepsy and reassuring their families.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 23:00
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Viatris Pharmaceutical G.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Sona Kim) announced today that it has launched a website for school personnel to help those involved in schools and daycare centers understand and confirm how to use "Spydia® Nasal Spray." This follows the administrative notice dated April 16, 2026, issued by the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), titled "Regarding the Administration of Diazepam Nasal Spray (Spydia®) During Epileptic Seizures in Schools, etc." (hereinafter referred to as "this administrative notice"). This notice provides guidelines for teachers and other staff to administer the company's nasally administered anticonvulsant "Spydia® Nasal Spray 5mg, 7.5mg, and 10mg" (generic name: diazepam, hereinafter referred to as "Spydia") during epileptic seizures in schools.
Through this website (https://spydia.jp/educators/), Viatris Pharmaceutical will provide practical and easy-to-understand information, including guidance on appropriate usage, precautions for administration, and support for daily management, to assist school personnel who receive inquiries from patients' families about Spydia.
This administrative notice is based on the response (MHLW Medical Affairs Bureau, Medical Affairs Division Notification Isei-i-hatsu 0415 Dai 1 Go, April 15, Reiwa 8) to an inquiry made by MEXT and others to the MHLW Medical Affairs Bureau, Medical Affairs Division, regarding the administration of Spydia Nasal Spray (Spydia®) by teachers and other staff on behalf of children and students who experience epileptic seizures in schools, after-school children's healthy development programs, after-school children's classes, etc.
■ Inquiry from MEXT and others (as per original text)
It is assumed that in cases where infants, children, students, or university students (hereinafter referred to as "children, etc.") enrolled in or using schools, daycare centers, certified children's centers, family-based childcare services, after-school children's healthy development programs, short-term childcare support programs, child development support centers, after-school children's classes, unauthorized childcare facilities, child independent living support programs, child development support, after-school day services, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "schools, etc.") experience an epileptic seizure and are in a life-threatening condition, staff including teachers (hereinafter referred to as "teachers, etc.") present at the scene may administer diazepam nasal spray ("Spydia®") on behalf of the person who cannot administer it themselves. This act is considered an unavoidable emergency measure. Is it correct to interpret that this act does not violate Article 17 of the Medical Practitioners' Act (Act No. 201 of 1948) 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:
That the child, etc., is recognized as needing diazepam nasal spray in schools, etc., as an unavoidable measure.
Precautions for using diazepam nasal spray.
② The child, etc., and their guardian have specifically requested the school, etc., to use diazepam nasal spray for the child, etc., in unavoidable circumstances (including providing and explaining the written instructions from the doctor regarding precautions for using diazepam nasal spray).
③ The teacher, etc., in charge of the child, etc., uses diazepam nasal spray with due regard to the following points:
Reconfirming that the child, etc., is indeed the person for whom the use of diazepam nasal spray is recognized as an unavoidable measure.
Complying with the written instructions regarding precautions for using diazepam nasal spray.
④ The guardian of the child, etc., or the teacher, etc., must ensure that the child, etc., receives medical attention at a medical institution after using diazepam nasal spray.
■ Response from the MHLW Medical Affairs Bureau, Medical Affairs Division 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 implementing a series of these actions.
Upon receiving this notice, Ms. Ruby Kuroiwa, representative of the Dravet Syndrome Patient Family Association for intractable epilepsy, commented as follows:
"We, as families raising children with intractable epilepsy, including Dravet Syndrome, sincerely welcome the issuance of this administrative notice, which allows childcare workers and teachers in childcare and educational settings to use Spydia Nasal Spray in emergencies.
Seizures in intractable epilepsy, including Dravet Syndrome, are sudden and sometimes life-threatening. When a seizure occurs in a daycare center, kindergarten, or school, having an environment where "necessary immediate action can be taken" is a significant step towards ensuring children can live their daily lives with peace of mind and alleviating the worries of their families, even slightly. This decision contributes to both the safety of children and the reduction of the burden on staff in educational settings. We also express our deep gratitude to all childcare workers and teachers who daily address the understanding and support for children (or preschoolers), students, and their families living with epilepsy. We also pay tribute to all those involved who have worked hard to create this system.
We, the family association, believe that children...
Through this website (https://spydia.jp/educators/), Viatris Pharmaceutical will provide practical and easy-to-understand information, including guidance on appropriate usage, precautions for administration, and support for daily management, to assist school personnel who receive inquiries from patients' families about Spydia.
This administrative notice is based on the response (MHLW Medical Affairs Bureau, Medical Affairs Division Notification Isei-i-hatsu 0415 Dai 1 Go, April 15, Reiwa 8) to an inquiry made by MEXT and others to the MHLW Medical Affairs Bureau, Medical Affairs Division, regarding the administration of Spydia Nasal Spray (Spydia®) by teachers and other staff on behalf of children and students who experience epileptic seizures in schools, after-school children's healthy development programs, after-school children's classes, etc.
■ Inquiry from MEXT and others (as per original text)
It is assumed that in cases where infants, children, students, or university students (hereinafter referred to as "children, etc.") enrolled in or using schools, daycare centers, certified children's centers, family-based childcare services, after-school children's healthy development programs, short-term childcare support programs, child development support centers, after-school children's classes, unauthorized childcare facilities, child independent living support programs, child development support, after-school day services, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "schools, etc.") experience an epileptic seizure and are in a life-threatening condition, staff including teachers (hereinafter referred to as "teachers, etc.") present at the scene may administer diazepam nasal spray ("Spydia®") on behalf of the person who cannot administer it themselves. This act is considered an unavoidable emergency measure. Is it correct to interpret that this act does not violate Article 17 of the Medical Practitioners' Act (Act No. 201 of 1948) 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:
That the child, etc., is recognized as needing diazepam nasal spray in schools, etc., as an unavoidable measure.
Precautions for using diazepam nasal spray.
② The child, etc., and their guardian have specifically requested the school, etc., to use diazepam nasal spray for the child, etc., in unavoidable circumstances (including providing and explaining the written instructions from the doctor regarding precautions for using diazepam nasal spray).
③ The teacher, etc., in charge of the child, etc., uses diazepam nasal spray with due regard to the following points:
Reconfirming that the child, etc., is indeed the person for whom the use of diazepam nasal spray is recognized as an unavoidable measure.
Complying with the written instructions regarding precautions for using diazepam nasal spray.
④ The guardian of the child, etc., or the teacher, etc., must ensure that the child, etc., receives medical attention at a medical institution after using diazepam nasal spray.
■ Response from the MHLW Medical Affairs Bureau, Medical Affairs Division 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 implementing a series of these actions.
Upon receiving this notice, Ms. Ruby Kuroiwa, representative of the Dravet Syndrome Patient Family Association for intractable epilepsy, commented as follows:
"We, as families raising children with intractable epilepsy, including Dravet Syndrome, sincerely welcome the issuance of this administrative notice, which allows childcare workers and teachers in childcare and educational settings to use Spydia Nasal Spray in emergencies.
Seizures in intractable epilepsy, including Dravet Syndrome, are sudden and sometimes life-threatening. When a seizure occurs in a daycare center, kindergarten, or school, having an environment where "necessary immediate action can be taken" is a significant step towards ensuring children can live their daily lives with peace of mind and alleviating the worries of their families, even slightly. This decision contributes to both the safety of children and the reduction of the burden on staff in educational settings. We also express our deep gratitude to all childcare workers and teachers who daily address the understanding and support for children (or preschoolers), students, and their families living with epilepsy. We also pay tribute to all those involved who have worked hard to create this system.
We, the family association, believe that children...