Swiss drugmaker Roche, under pressure to increase output of its antiviral drug Tamiflu as avian flu reaches Europe, said yesterday that it would consider granting other firms licences to make the drug.
In a move that echoes schemes to make expensive HIV/Aids treatments available in Africa, Roche said it would consider allowing companies and governments in developing nations to produce the drug in preparation for a feared bird flu pandemic.
"If a company believes that they have the ability to do this from start to finish we would discuss that with them," said David Reddy, head of the Swiss firm's production and sales of Tamiflu, in a telephone interview.
Mr Reddy said the firm had not received any approaches by companies, and just one approach by an Asian government.
He added, however, that Roche would be willing to discuss production with Indian generics maker Cipla, which has said it wants to make a copycat version of Tamiflu.
Thailand also said earlier it would bypass Roche to make its own version of Tamiflu by next October.
"Every country is queuing up to buy Tamiflu from Roche and we are afraid we won't be able to get enough drug when we need it. So we have to produce it ourselves," said Thawat Suntarjarn, head of Thailand's department of disease control.
Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, is the most effective antiviral drug currently available for avian flu and is one of a class of treatments recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in the event of a flu pandemic.
Roche has come under pressure in recent weeks to loosen its grasp on the patents that protect the treatment, with calls from the United Nations to sweep away the commercial barriers to producing the drug.
Mike Ryan, WHO director for epidemic and pandemic alert, yesterday said that supplies were clearly insufficient to face up to a potential bird flu pandemic if the steadily-spreading avian virus jumps to humans.
"Public health must overcome all obstacles in the trade and licensing area," Mr Ryan said, echoing recent comments by UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
Mr Reddy said companies could collaborate in the Tamiflu manufacturing process in order to help lift overall output, or Roche could discuss granting rival companies or governments a licence to produce the drug from scratch. Governments are rushing to build stocks of the treatment, with 40 nations having placed bulk orders. - (Reuters)