Tamiflu

Global health care company Roche announced today the initiation of the Tamiflu Reserves Program (TRP) for developing economies.

Tamiflu is an antiviral drug that fights influenza viruses . The medicine is used for flu treatment and prevention.

The program, which is effective immediately, will serve to ensure that Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is available to many governments and patients in developing nations for use when the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an influenza pandemic*, or for the management of a novel influenza strain defined by WHO that has significant and current pandemic potential.

Under the TRP program, Roche will produce and store Tamiflu pandemic stockpiles for specified developing countries at a significantly reduced price with the cost spread over a number of years.

Roche will then ship the stockpile to the governments of countries concerned when an influenza pandemic has been announced, or in the event of a public health emergency, upon request from the governments concerned.

The countries can exercise their option to purchase the product at any time. Eritrea and approximately 70 other countries are eligible for the TRP Program of Roche.