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UPDATE: Roche: Companies Need To Stockpile Flu Drugs
By Val Brickates Kennedy
BOSTON (Dow Jones) -- According to a senior executive of pharmaceutical giant Roche, companies should plan on stockpiling avian flu vaccines and antiviral medications in order to protect employees from the ravages of a possible avian flu pandemic rather than relying solely on the government.
According to George Abercrombie, chief executive officer of Roche's Hoffman- LaRoche division, companies should consider stockpiling enough of the flu- fighting products to protect at least 25% of their workers.
"I encourage you to help protect your organization by planning now," said Abercrombie, noting that a recent poll showed that while a wide majority of businesses believed an avian flu pandemic was inevitable, only about 20% had viable contingency plans.
Abercrombie added that companies might want to consider going beyond the 25% threshold and stockpile enough drugs to protect workers' families in order to encourage them to stay on the job during a pandemic. He added that companies might see up to a 40% absentee rate at the height of a flu outbreak.
The executive also said that companies should consult the federal and international websites that have been set to help organizations prepare for a pandemic. In particular, companies need to set up task forces of essential personnel to create contingency plans to accommodate for rampant absenteeism, workers coming in sick to work, and enhanced workplace hygiene as a hedge against infection.
Companies also need to look at how they will procure raw materials and ship products if transportation and commerce is seriously disrupted. In addition, organizations should start stockpiling essential business supplies, Abercrombie advised.
He added that current federal plan call for vaccines and antivirals to be distributed by state-level entities. Any initial outbreaks would likely overwhelm local hospitals and drain local antiviral and vaccine stockpiles.
"There is a possibility that society could shut down, even essential services, " said Abercrombie. "Difficult decisions will have to be made as to who receives vaccines or antivirals."
Roche is a maker of the leading antiviral drug Tamiflu, which most healthcare professionals believe is the most effective product already out on the market to treat avian flu. Another product, GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza, may also be effective against the deadly virus, which kills by destroying the lungs.
Older anvirals have proved to be largely ineffective against the virus, which, so far, has only been transmitted to humans that had unusually close contact with infected birds.
Most health experts agree that antivirals would be used as a first defense in a pandemic until an effective vaccine can be produced. Because flu viruses are constantly mutating, scientists have to wait until an outbreak occurs in order to accurately identify which flu strain poses the greatest threat. After the strain is identified, a vaccine can then be developed.
But because vaccines and antivirals like Tamiflu take months to manufacture, substantial amounts need to be stockpiled in case of an emergency. Abercrombie pointed out that it takes 6 to 12 months for Roche to produce Tamiflu. Likewise, avian flu vaccines can take up to 9 months to cultivate.
"Stockpiling is necessary," said Ambercrombie. "We can't flip a switch to produce massive amounts of Tamiflu during a pandemic."
He added that Tamiflu can currently be stored safely for up to five years and possibly longer.
Companies can stockpile drugs by contacting prescription benefit management firms who can then procure the drugs and keep them housed in local distribution warehouses until they are needed, said Abercrombie. Like most pharmaceutical companies, Roche uses wholesalers and distributors to distribute its products to the public.
Roche is also working on a way to synthesize the key ingredient in Tamiflu, shikimic acid. The compound is currently derived from exotic spice star anise, which is harvested from native trees in China. The move should be able to protect Tamiflu production from any disruptions during an avian flu pandemic, when access to the trees could be impossible.
As part of the global health effort, Roche has donated 2 million treatment doses of Tamiflu to the World Health Organization for "rapid deployment" to contain an initial outbreak of the virus.
The U.S. government has said that it wants to eventually stockpile about 81 million doses of antivirals, with over 80% of that being Tamiflu. To date, 5 million doses have been delivered, with another 15 million expected by the end of the year, according to Roche.
Abercrombie said that Roche, at the government's request, has also established a supply-chain operation dedicated to the U.S. market.
By the end of 2006, Roche will be able to produce 80 million doses a year for the U.S. market, up from its current capacity of 15 million. Internationally, Roche will be able to produce 400 million doses a year by the end of 2006, Abercrombie said.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
06-07-061341ET
Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/N...eadlinereturnpage=http://www.international.na
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By Val Brickates Kennedy
BOSTON (Dow Jones) -- According to a senior executive of pharmaceutical giant Roche, companies should plan on stockpiling avian flu vaccines and antiviral medications in order to protect employees from the ravages of a possible avian flu pandemic rather than relying solely on the government.
According to George Abercrombie, chief executive officer of Roche's Hoffman- LaRoche division, companies should consider stockpiling enough of the flu- fighting products to protect at least 25% of their workers.
"I encourage you to help protect your organization by planning now," said Abercrombie, noting that a recent poll showed that while a wide majority of businesses believed an avian flu pandemic was inevitable, only about 20% had viable contingency plans.
Abercrombie added that companies might want to consider going beyond the 25% threshold and stockpile enough drugs to protect workers' families in order to encourage them to stay on the job during a pandemic. He added that companies might see up to a 40% absentee rate at the height of a flu outbreak.
The executive also said that companies should consult the federal and international websites that have been set to help organizations prepare for a pandemic. In particular, companies need to set up task forces of essential personnel to create contingency plans to accommodate for rampant absenteeism, workers coming in sick to work, and enhanced workplace hygiene as a hedge against infection.
Companies also need to look at how they will procure raw materials and ship products if transportation and commerce is seriously disrupted. In addition, organizations should start stockpiling essential business supplies, Abercrombie advised.
He added that current federal plan call for vaccines and antivirals to be distributed by state-level entities. Any initial outbreaks would likely overwhelm local hospitals and drain local antiviral and vaccine stockpiles.
"There is a possibility that society could shut down, even essential services, " said Abercrombie. "Difficult decisions will have to be made as to who receives vaccines or antivirals."
Roche is a maker of the leading antiviral drug Tamiflu, which most healthcare professionals believe is the most effective product already out on the market to treat avian flu. Another product, GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza, may also be effective against the deadly virus, which kills by destroying the lungs.
Older anvirals have proved to be largely ineffective against the virus, which, so far, has only been transmitted to humans that had unusually close contact with infected birds.
Most health experts agree that antivirals would be used as a first defense in a pandemic until an effective vaccine can be produced. Because flu viruses are constantly mutating, scientists have to wait until an outbreak occurs in order to accurately identify which flu strain poses the greatest threat. After the strain is identified, a vaccine can then be developed.
But because vaccines and antivirals like Tamiflu take months to manufacture, substantial amounts need to be stockpiled in case of an emergency. Abercrombie pointed out that it takes 6 to 12 months for Roche to produce Tamiflu. Likewise, avian flu vaccines can take up to 9 months to cultivate.
"Stockpiling is necessary," said Ambercrombie. "We can't flip a switch to produce massive amounts of Tamiflu during a pandemic."
He added that Tamiflu can currently be stored safely for up to five years and possibly longer.
Companies can stockpile drugs by contacting prescription benefit management firms who can then procure the drugs and keep them housed in local distribution warehouses until they are needed, said Abercrombie. Like most pharmaceutical companies, Roche uses wholesalers and distributors to distribute its products to the public.
Roche is also working on a way to synthesize the key ingredient in Tamiflu, shikimic acid. The compound is currently derived from exotic spice star anise, which is harvested from native trees in China. The move should be able to protect Tamiflu production from any disruptions during an avian flu pandemic, when access to the trees could be impossible.
As part of the global health effort, Roche has donated 2 million treatment doses of Tamiflu to the World Health Organization for "rapid deployment" to contain an initial outbreak of the virus.
The U.S. government has said that it wants to eventually stockpile about 81 million doses of antivirals, with over 80% of that being Tamiflu. To date, 5 million doses have been delivered, with another 15 million expected by the end of the year, according to Roche.
Abercrombie said that Roche, at the government's request, has also established a supply-chain operation dedicated to the U.S. market.
By the end of 2006, Roche will be able to produce 80 million doses a year for the U.S. market, up from its current capacity of 15 million. Internationally, Roche will be able to produce 400 million doses a year by the end of 2006, Abercrombie said.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
06-07-061341ET
Copyright (c) 2006 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/N...eadlinereturnpage=http://www.international.na
</pre>