Roche grants Tamiflu sub-license to India's Hetero Drug
BASEL (AFX) - Roche Holding AG announced it has granted a sub-license to
Indian company Hetero Drugs for the production of flu drug Tamiflu, seen as a
first line treatment in the event of a bird flu pandemic.
The move is part of its continued efforts to increase and speed up
availability of the medicine, the Swiss drug maker said.
While Roche is on schedule to meet current orders from over 50 governments,
the collaboration with Hetero will enhance the supply of Tamiflu in some of the
world's poorest countries, it said.
Roche had previously announced it had identified 12 partners to collaborate
on the production of Tamiflu.
A first sub-license had been granted to Chinese partner Shanghai
Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, covering China's requirements for the drug.