Roche hikes US Tamiflu production capacity

18/09/2006 - Roche has boosted annual manufacturing capacity for Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) to 80m treatment courses, as demand for the flu drug shows no sign of abating.

The rise means Roche's global production network will be capable of producing 400m courses of Tamiflu annually by the end of 2006, a more than ten-fold increase since 2004.
The Swiss drug firm has predicted sales this year for Tamiflu will reach SFr1.1bn to SFr1.2bn (€7bn-€7.5bn), excluding sales as a treatment for regular influenza.

Amidst fears of a bird flu pandemic, the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has been adamant that the US should be self-reliant in the supply of Tamiflu, so Roche and its external contractors have established all aspects of Tamiflu production in America, from synthesis of the initial starting material through all major steps of manufacturing to finished packs.

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