Tamiflu Case
Tamiflu Case
Summary
Tamiflu (generic name: oseltamivir) is an antiviral medication that works against most but not all strains of flu — it is not effective against flu strains that have become resistant to it. Used preventively during an outbreak, Tamiflu significantly reduces the likelihood of illness. Used as a treatment (if taken promptly after the onset of symptoms), it may significantly reduce the duration and severity of illness.
As the world’s health officials prepare for a pandemic of fatal bird flu, the Swiss drug giant Roche may have the most important ingredient of all: the antiviral drug Tamiflu. That is a lot of responsibility considering that bird flu is often fatal and a viable vaccine is not yet available. (1)
The largest, most devastating outbreak of an infectious disease in modern history occurred in 1918, when a highly virulent influenza A (H1N1) virus spread throughout the world and killed between 20 million to 40 million people. Additional epidemics occurred in 1957 (H2N2) and 1968 (H3N2), both originating in Asia and each killing approximately 1 million people. (2)
[pic]
Picture 1. Countries Reporting Avian Influenza during 2004. (Information is from the World Organization of Animal Health). (3)
Background
In 2005, there was considerable concern that the owner of the exclusive right to manufacture the patented drug, the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, Inc., lacked the production capacity to meet the needs of these governments worldwide.
In response to the heightened demand for the drug, as well as faced with threatened abrogation of its patent rights by U.S. politicians and government officials in other countries, Roche significantly boosted Tamiflu production in 2006 and 2007 by voluntarily signing licensing agreements with 19 external contractors in 9 different countries to manufacture the drug.
This expansion in manufacturing capacity has increased production of the drug to over 400 million treatments annually —
Summary
Tamiflu (generic name: oseltamivir) is an antiviral medication that works against most but not all strains of flu — it is not effective against flu strains that have become resistant to it. Used preventively during an outbreak, Tamiflu significantly reduces the likelihood of illness. Used as a treatment (if taken promptly after the onset of symptoms), it may significantly reduce the duration and severity of illness.
As the world’s health officials prepare for a pandemic of fatal bird flu, the Swiss drug giant Roche may have the most important ingredient of all: the antiviral drug Tamiflu. That is a lot of responsibility considering that bird flu is often fatal and a viable vaccine is not yet available. (1)
The largest, most devastating outbreak of an infectious disease in modern history occurred in 1918, when a highly virulent influenza A (H1N1) virus spread throughout the world and killed between 20 million to 40 million people. Additional epidemics occurred in 1957 (H2N2) and 1968 (H3N2), both originating in Asia and each killing approximately 1 million people. (2)
[pic]
Picture 1. Countries Reporting Avian Influenza during 2004. (Information is from the World Organization of Animal Health). (3)
Background
In 2005, there was considerable concern that the owner of the exclusive right to manufacture the patented drug, the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche, Inc., lacked the production capacity to meet the needs of these governments worldwide.
In response to the heightened demand for the drug, as well as faced with threatened abrogation of its patent rights by U.S. politicians and government officials in other countries, Roche significantly boosted Tamiflu production in 2006 and 2007 by voluntarily signing licensing agreements with 19 external contractors in 9 different countries to manufacture the drug.
This expansion in manufacturing capacity has increased production of the drug to over 400 million treatments annually —