Roche confirms efficacy of Tamiflu for children

Roche has confirmed that its anti-viral Tamiflu (oseltamivir) has been shown to significantly reduce illness severity and duration in children aged one year and older in a recent study.

New data presented at the World Society for Paediatric Infectious Disease meeting in Bangkok, highlighted that Tamiflu was particularly effective if given 24 hours after symptoms are first recognised.

Tamiflu was also demonstrated to reduce the incidence of respiratory tract infections, ear infections and antibiotic use according to the findings.

Dr Keith Reisinger, from Primary Physicians Research, illustrated that children tended to be particularly vulnerable to both suffering from influenza and passing it on.

“Its reassuring that oseltamivir can be used for the management of influenza in children as young as one year old,” he stated.

Tamiflu was shown to reduce influenza severity by nearly a third and illness duration by over 26 per cent when compared to a placebo and initiated within 48 hours of symptom onset.

However if taken within 24 hours of onset, Tamiflu halved the influenza severity and reduced the illness duration by 34 per cent compared to a placebo.

Earlier this week, Roche announced that the US Food and Drug Administration approved Mircera for the treatment of anaemia associated with chronic renal failure in adult patients both on and off dialysis treatment.