Roche provides update on influenza pandemic preparedness

Roche has announced the launch of a number of initiatives to investigate the use of Tamiflu against the H5N1 influenza or avian flu virus, with the firm also setting out its production strategy for the compound.

Among the initiatives to be launched by the firm are a number of pre-clinical virology studies to optimise Tamiflu dosing, a registry study of avian influenza to characterise the virus and case studies of post-exposure prophylaxis to assess the ability of Tamiflu to prevent influenza illness.

Other plans to be launched by the company include investigations into the possibility of an intravenous formulation of Tamiflu, long-term prophylaxis in essential workers and the use of high 150 mg doses of the treatment.

William M Burns, chief executive officer of Roche Pharma, said: “The manufacturing expansion went to plan and Roche together with external partners now have the ability to produce more than 400 million courses of Tamiflu a year.”

He added that the company has received orders of 215 million treatments from governments worldwide, meaning the firm can maintain a buffer stock of the compound and meet additional orders from organisations if needed.

In November 2006, Roche reported that there had been no increase in resistance to Tamiflu, with rates of resistance to the compound remaining “rare”.