S. Korea Officials Not Considering Tamiflu Compulsory License
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
The South Korean government is under pressure to follow the practice of some other Asian countries and issue a compulsory license to allow a generic version of Roche's antiviral flu drug, Tamiflu (oseltamivir). The country has not had a serious debate over compulsory licensing since 2005 when the Korea FDA asked several local drug makers if they could manufacture a generic of Tamiflu to treat avian flu. Sixteen South Korean companies submitted data showing they could make the drug almost immediately. A Health Ministry official said a compulsory license was never debated within the government, but some medical professionals say such a move should be considered to deal with the current H1N1 flu outbreaks. (Click here for more