March 17, 2006

Roche to crank up Tamiflu production

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche said on Thursday that it was boosting production of the anti-bird flu drug Tamiflu by 33 percent to meet a rise in global demand.

By the end of this year, it will have the capacity to produce up to 400 million treatments annually, instead of the previously announced 300 million, the company said in a statement.

The increase in capacity will be achieved through the addition of other production partners and expansion in Roche-owned facilities.

The company's global network of Tamiflu manufacturers will include several Roche sites and more than 15 external contractors in nine countries.

Roche is also exploring the viability of producing Tamiflu in Africa which has also been hit by bird flu.

65 countries and regions have ordered Tamiflu so far.