Roche provides WHO with 5.65 million packs of Tamiflu

Roche has provided the World Health Organization (WHO) with 5.65 million courses of treatment of the antiviral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir), which will replenish the regional stockpile of two million treatment courses of Tamiflu held by the WHO and used to address regional outbreaks.

It also replenishes the rapid response stockpile of three million treatment courses of Tamiflu held by Roche and deployed under the direction of the WHO. In addition, it establishes a new pediatric stockpile of 650,000 treatment courses of Tamiflu small (30mg and 45mg) capsules.

"The recent outbreak of influenza A (H1N1) shows that such a virus can be totally unexpected and spread rapidly around the globe," said William Burns, ceo of the pharmaceuticals division of Roche. This emphasises the urgency of restoring WHO and Roche rapid response stockpiles, alongside national government stockpiles, to prepare for subsequent waves with this virus or for addressing newly emerging influenza strains."

Roche said its production of Tamiflu could reach 110 million courses of treatment over the next five months. After this time, production will increase towards a maximum production output of 36 million treatment courses each month by the end of 2009, if required. This equates to a maximum annual capacity of 400 million treatment courses (four billion capsules) a year.

"Actual production output is dependent upon continued demand from governments for pandemic stockpiles of Tamiflu," said Dr David Reddy, head of Roche's global pandemic preparedness task force.

The WHO said the international community should treat its declaration of pandemic alert phase 5 as a "window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response".