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06 November 2009 - 11:29
/ The Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche and the British bank HSBC are the target of an investigation in South Korea, suspected of being involved with other foreign companies in the illegal sales and purchases of the antiviral Tamiflu, said the South Korean authorities Friday.
The health authorities (FDA) indicated Wednesday they had raided the offices of Roche in Seoul and seized, among other computer documents.
"Roche is being investigated as part of our investigation into the sales and the illegal purchase of Tamiflu, told AFP a spokesman for the FDA, Man-Ho Ahn.
Roche, which produces Tamiflu, confirmed the raid and said it was cooperating fully with local authorities.
"Our subsidiary in South Korea has been visited by the Korean FDA investigating storage (drug) to the pandemic by companies," he told AFP spokeswoman for Roche Headquartered in Basel.
"We are cooperating fully with authorities," she said, adding that the Swiss lab had provided a large number of boxes of Tamiflu to the authorities.
The raid followed an investigation begun in May, local hospitals, pharmacies and businesses accused of purchases, sales or storage of Tamiflu illegally, said Ahn Ho-Man.
South Korea prohibits professionals from the medical sector on a large scale sale of drugs without medical prescription. Violators could face up to 5 years in prison.
Health authorities suspect Roche have helped the Korean subsidiary of HSBC and the Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis to buy large quantities of Tamiflu.
HSBC and Novartis bought Tamiflu to treat more than 5,900 people, according to the FDA. "We have already asked prosecutors to open a criminal investigation against HSBC and Novartis," he said Ahn.
The FDA has raided other foreign companies, he said without disclosing names.
This survey is conducted when the influenza virus A (H1N1) is spreading rapidly, raising concerns.
This week, South Korea has declared a red alert, the highest level, with the death of 48 persons attributed to influenza A. Some doctors believe, however, that the mortality rate is not higher than during a normal flu season.
The country has enough Tamiflu to treat 5.3 million people, slightly over 10% of the population. It should provide treatment for more than 10 million people by the end of the year.
A spokesman for HSBC in Seoul, Jina Hwang, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
She however reiterated that the group had announced in September in a statement have stockpiled Tamiflu for its Korean staff. He then said to have made purchases via a contract with a local medical institute for prescriptions.
http://www.france24.com/fr/20091106-...qu-te-cor-esud
/ The Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche and the British bank HSBC are the target of an investigation in South Korea, suspected of being involved with other foreign companies in the illegal sales and purchases of the antiviral Tamiflu, said the South Korean authorities Friday.
The health authorities (FDA) indicated Wednesday they had raided the offices of Roche in Seoul and seized, among other computer documents.
"Roche is being investigated as part of our investigation into the sales and the illegal purchase of Tamiflu, told AFP a spokesman for the FDA, Man-Ho Ahn.
Roche, which produces Tamiflu, confirmed the raid and said it was cooperating fully with local authorities.
"Our subsidiary in South Korea has been visited by the Korean FDA investigating storage (drug) to the pandemic by companies," he told AFP spokeswoman for Roche Headquartered in Basel.
"We are cooperating fully with authorities," she said, adding that the Swiss lab had provided a large number of boxes of Tamiflu to the authorities.
The raid followed an investigation begun in May, local hospitals, pharmacies and businesses accused of purchases, sales or storage of Tamiflu illegally, said Ahn Ho-Man.
South Korea prohibits professionals from the medical sector on a large scale sale of drugs without medical prescription. Violators could face up to 5 years in prison.
Health authorities suspect Roche have helped the Korean subsidiary of HSBC and the Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis to buy large quantities of Tamiflu.
HSBC and Novartis bought Tamiflu to treat more than 5,900 people, according to the FDA. "We have already asked prosecutors to open a criminal investigation against HSBC and Novartis," he said Ahn.
The FDA has raided other foreign companies, he said without disclosing names.
This survey is conducted when the influenza virus A (H1N1) is spreading rapidly, raising concerns.
This week, South Korea has declared a red alert, the highest level, with the death of 48 persons attributed to influenza A. Some doctors believe, however, that the mortality rate is not higher than during a normal flu season.
The country has enough Tamiflu to treat 5.3 million people, slightly over 10% of the population. It should provide treatment for more than 10 million people by the end of the year.
A spokesman for HSBC in Seoul, Jina Hwang, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
She however reiterated that the group had announced in September in a statement have stockpiled Tamiflu for its Korean staff. He then said to have made purchases via a contract with a local medical institute for prescriptions.
http://www.france24.com/fr/20091106-...qu-te-cor-esud
