Panel Recommends Japan Double Flu-Drug Stockpile
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
A government panel recommended Japan more than double its stockpile of influenza drugs and include more of GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza (sanamivir). The panel recommended inclusion of Relenza in the stockpile to provide an available treatment in cases of drug resistance to the primary flu-fighter, Roche Holding's Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) marketed in Japan by Chugai Pharmaceutical. The stockpile envisioned by the panel would be enough to treat 60 million people, half the Japanese population, compared with the 29.4 million now covered by the two medicines. (Click here for more