Swiss Firm May Cede Bird Flu Drug Rights

Read the full story in the Washington Post

"The manufacturer of the leading drug against avian flu said yesterday it was willing to discuss arrangements for other companies to produce it despite having an exclusive patent.

"A spokeswoman for Roche Holding AG, a Swiss multinational company, said it might agree to allowing both governments and companies to produce the antiviral drug Tamiflu under sub-licensing agreements.

"The statement came on the same day that Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on Roche to reach an agreement within the next month to permit five American companies to manufacture Tamiflu, or face legislation that would strip the company of the patent. Schumer and others have criticized the pace of Roche's efforts to meet fast-growing world demand for its product."

The Tamiflu website states that in clinical trials, Tamiflu reduces the duration of episodes of the flu, reduces the duration of fever associated with the flu, and reduces viral shedding. While it is widely effective against existing flu varieties, it of course has not been tested against varieties of flu that have not yet emerged, and may not be as effective against an emerging avian flu. And of course, its effectiveness depends on being taken by a flu victim early in the course of the disease.

Still, it would be good news if Roche licenses the drug to other companies so that much larger supplies are made available.

By the way, I am planning to get my flu shot (for the current variety) this weekend. Please get yours. No flu is worth treating lightly, and we don't want people getting infected with an avian flu and simulaneously with a flu that is easily transmitted not only because that person will be very sick, but also because of the public health implications.