November 8, 2005

Roche to step up annual Tamiflu production
 

Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG said it would step up annual Tamiflu production to 300 million doses by 2007, in a bid to meet government orders in light of fears over a bird flu pandemic.

This marked a tenfold rise in production from 2004, when a decision was made to start stepping up production, Roche said.

The company which has an exclusive patent to make Tamiflu until 2016, has been under increasing international pressure to loosen its control over the drug's manufacture, as concerns mounted over a potential pandemic.

Roche said it had received requests from over 150 governments and companies, to help in producing a generic version of Tamiflu under license or being involved in outsourced production.

The company added that it has started negotiations with eight companies, which included major generic manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies, as well as with some governments including Taiwan and Vietnam.

Roche stated that hopefully partners could be selected by the end of the month to raise Tamiflu production.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has advised governments to maintain sufficient antiviral drugs and regular human flu vaccines for at least 25 percent of their populations. But Roche was reportedly unable to keep up with the demand.