Roche signs European vaccines deal with Cardinal Health

Roche has announced it has signed an agreement with Cardinal Health for the manufacturing of Tamiflu, the Roche antiviral drug recommended by the World Health Organisation as a first-line treatment against a potential human-avian flu epidemic.

Cardinal Health will manufacture 75mg hard gelatine capsules for Roche at one of its European manufacturing sites. Although the location has not yet been named, Cardinal Health has one such site in Swindon.

Additionally, the two companies have also made arrangements for packaging and printing in the US.

So far Roche has received orders for Tamiflu from 75 countries, including the UK for stockpiling to protect between 20 and 40 per cent of the population.

Joseph Papa, chairman and chief executive officer of Cardinal Health’s pharmaceutical technologies and services business, commented: “Roche has demonstrated global leadership through its commitment to increase production in advance of a possible avian flu outbreak.

“Cardinal Health’s pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging expertise allows companies like Roche to expand production in a timely manner.”

“This model is vital in preparing for and responding to situations like avian flu, where rapid, cost-effective solutions are critical to success,” added Mr Papa.

Cardinal Health claims to manufacture or package 100 billion doses of pharmaceuticals each year. It adds that it has manufactured or packaged drugs for nine out of the top ten pharmaceutical companies.

The company employs 55,000 people worldwide and also manufactures medical equipment. It has UK sites in Swindon and Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

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