Article

2005-11-10 Science & Technology

Roche Plans Big Increase in Tamiflu Production

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Posted by Steve White 2005-11-10 10:50|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

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1-800 number being reserved as you read this.

Posted by Greregum Phomong6307 2005-11-10 11:34|| 2005-11-10 11:34|| Front Page Top

#2 Roche continues to research a non-swine based shikimic acid free Tamiflu which it hopes to have available by the fall of 2019.

Posted by Besoeker 2005-11-10 13:42|| 2005-11-10 13:42|| Front Page Top

#3 (This sounds a tad technical, but its intent is clear. I wonder if Tamiflu is just a pallative, to soothe a scared public?)

"There are 2 distinct H5N1's, and 3 distinct H1N1's making the rounds in Asia. The H5N1's have identical 20 amino-acid deletions, and the H1N1's have identical 16 amino-acid deletions in the neuraminidase sequences. The net effect of these deletions is to drastically decrease the effectiveness of NA inhibitors such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu). The current substrains require 30 times the threshold dose of oseltamivir to effect control as similar strains last year. To date, of Vietnamese contracting the H5N1 strain, there have been no survivors among the group receiving Tamiflu as an anti-viral.

Other modifications include an M2 sequence change in all five strains that renders ion-channel blockers such as amantadine and rimantidine ineffective.

Of common anti-virals, only zanamivir (Relenza) at present appears to retain any effectiveness."

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-11-10 20:22|| 2005-11-10 20:22|| Front Page Top

#4 But I knew that Tamiflu was ineffective against the Avian Flu ages ago, and I daren't claim any special medical knowledge or understanding. I'd vote for palliative, Anonymoose; I hear that the Germans have demanded so many Tamiflu prescriptions that pharmacy shelves have been emptied, although that may be just a rumor. Just like the moneyed in this country were demanding just-in-case Cipro prescriptions during the anthrax scare.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-11-10 22:01|| 2005-11-10 22:01|| Front Page Top

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