Giuseppe
Emeritus
Maximizing the Value of Drug Stockpiles for Pandemic Influenza (Emerg Infect Dis, extract, edited)
[Source Full Free Document: LINK. EDITED.]
DOI: 10.3201/eid1510.090844
Suggested citation for this article: Li Wan Po A, Farndon P, Palmer N. Maximizing the value of drug stockpiles for pandemic influenza [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Oct; [Epub ahead of print]
Maximizing the Value of Drug Stockpiles for Pandemic Influenza
To the Editor:
Tamiflu (oseltamivir; Roche, Indianapolis, IN, USA) is destined to be one of the few branded drugs to develop instant street recognition because of its status as 1 of only 2 licensed drugs shown to be active against the influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Tamiflu is the major drug stockpiled by governments around the world in preparedness against an influenza pandemic. More than 70 governments have placed orders for Tamiflu, and at least 220 million treatment courses have been stockpiled since 2003 at a cost of $6.9 billion (1). Roche is producing 110 million courses for the 5 months from May to fall 2009 and will produce up to 36 million courses per month by year?s end if necessary. Given the estimated world population of 6.8 billion, it is clear that on a global basis stockpiles are woefully inadequate. For the United Kingdom, official estimates indicate sufficient stocks currently exist for half of the population (2).
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[Source Full Free Document: LINK. EDITED.]
DOI: 10.3201/eid1510.090844
Suggested citation for this article: Li Wan Po A, Farndon P, Palmer N. Maximizing the value of drug stockpiles for pandemic influenza [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis. 2009 Oct; [Epub ahead of print]
Maximizing the Value of Drug Stockpiles for Pandemic Influenza
To the Editor:
Tamiflu (oseltamivir; Roche, Indianapolis, IN, USA) is destined to be one of the few branded drugs to develop instant street recognition because of its status as 1 of only 2 licensed drugs shown to be active against the influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. Tamiflu is the major drug stockpiled by governments around the world in preparedness against an influenza pandemic. More than 70 governments have placed orders for Tamiflu, and at least 220 million treatment courses have been stockpiled since 2003 at a cost of $6.9 billion (1). Roche is producing 110 million courses for the 5 months from May to fall 2009 and will produce up to 36 million courses per month by year?s end if necessary. Given the estimated world population of 6.8 billion, it is clear that on a global basis stockpiles are woefully inadequate. For the United Kingdom, official estimates indicate sufficient stocks currently exist for half of the population (2).
(...)
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