Roche: Tamiflu stocks are “readily available”

Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical company, has announced that an increase in production of Tamiflu, its antiviral medication, means supplies will meet forthcoming seasonal demands and could be used if the need for pandemic stockpiling arose.

Influenza causes disruption and debilitation for the millions who contract the virus each year and can, if left untreated, result in serious complications or death.

In the 2005-06 season, it was necessary for Roche to restrict distribution of Tamiflu in order to maintain availability in the event of an influenza outbreak. This led many people to believe that the drug was in short supply.

However, the last 12 months has seen a significant increase in Roche’s Tamiflu production capacity. The company states that by the end of 2006, it will be capable of producing as many as 400 million treatment courses.

“Physicians can be confident that Tamiflu will be readily and widely available to patients who need it this season for flu treatment and post-exposure prevention,” said William M Burns, chief executive officer of Division Roche Pharma.

“The measures taken also enable us to schedule any additional orders from governments and corporations who are stockpiling Tamiflu in preparation for an influenza pandemic,” he added.

Utilization of Roche’s increased Tamiflu production capacity will depend upon the level of demand from the market and the severity of the upcoming influenza season, Mr Burns concluded.

Roche is a leading supplier of diagnostics and medicines for transplantations and cancer, employing around 70,000 people worldwide.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche continues to carry out extensive research into the development of more effective treatments of the H5N1 avian influenza virus.