Roche will share the secrets of medicines against avian flu

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche will cooperate with competitors from the United States in the production of vaccine drug Tamiflu, which could help contain the spread avian influenza.
To date, Tamiflu is the most effective drug against the H5N1 virus and the government of 40 countries have filed multimillion jobs to create sufficient stocks. Roche acknowledged that for all the jobs themselves in the short term it is not in a position, despite the fact that over the last three years the annual production of the drug doubled.

But then, to convince pharmacists to open formulations for the manufacture of proprietary drugs, took effect politicians. Negotiations with the American affiliate of Roche has New York Senator Charles Schumer.

In the end, it was announced that Roche will begin negotiations with the company Teva, Barr, Mylan and Ranbaxy, with the production of generic drugs. "We will have much more Tamiflu than if Roche dealt with this self," declared Senator Schumer.

Roche "prepared to discuss"

"Roche has agreed to meet with the leadership of these companies as soon as possible, probably in early next week. It was ready to discuss the production of Tamiflu and other interested companies, "Schumer said after talks with George Abercrombie, head of the American subsidiary of Roche.

Before disclosing secrets patent, a Swiss company, however, wants to make sure that other companies in a position to produce enough drugs. "We want to make sure that they are able to produce large quantities of Tamiflu in a pandemic situation, in the time frame and with the necessary parameters."

Perhaps this explains some more cool attitude Roche regarding admission to the production companies of other countries. About their willingness to make Tamiflu said Thailand, India and Taiwan, but that the contacts Swiss pharmacists limited American companies.