Science & Technology - Roche begins Tamiflu stockpile program

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Roche begins Tamiflu stockpile program

BASEL, Switzerland (UPI) -- Swiss drugmaker Roche has announced a program that allows U.S. companies to stockpile their own supplies of Tamiflu to be delivered should a flu pandemic occur.

State, federal and foreign governments already have been stockpiling Tamiflu, an anti-viral drug used to prevent and treat influenza, USA Today reported.

The new program would allow corporations to do the same.

To participate in Roche's program, a company would have to commit to a minimum order of 2,500 courses of the drug at $6 each, for an annual fee of $15,000, said Roche President and Chief Eexecutive Officer George Abercrombie.

Under the agreement, Roche stores the medication, making sure it is up-to-date and secure.

The newspaper reported that once a year, companies can decide to opt out or continue the Tamiflu program.

If a company wants to take possession of its Tamiflu stockpile, the medication can be bought at the wholesale price and delivered within 48 hours, Abercrombie said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 06/28/2008

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