December 27, 2005

Roche authorises Indian drug company to make Tamiflu

Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche has authorised Indian drug company Hetero, to make and sell Tamiflu under licence in several developing countries. Tamiflu has been effectively used to treat bird flu in humans.

This marked the second such agreement after Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group, which Roche earlier allowed to mass-produce Tamiflu. But this was the first time Roche has allowed a partner company to produce and sell Tamiflu not only in its home market but also in other developing countries.

Roche said the agreement that initially lasts for two years, would allow Hetero to sell Tamiflu at any price it chooses in India and countries where there is little or no intellectual property protection for the drug.

The deal would also allow Hetero to promptly supply 100,000 treatments to the Indian government. Roche would then contribute an equivalent amount directly.

Roche said it would receive a royalty from Hetero but did not elaborate on the amount.