India Researchers To Test For Local Sources Of Key Tamiflu Ingredient
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Indian scientists believe they are on the threshold of local development of the primary primary ingredient in Roche's Tamiflu (oseltamivir), so far the main treatment for the H1N1 influenza virus. Tamiflu is still under patent protection, so the rest of the ingredients are not public, but shikimic acid taken from the fruit of China's anise tree, is known to be the main one. Indian researchers are searching for local sources of the acid and are setting up commercial trials to determine how much can be extracted from certain Indian trees, and whether there is enough to process in large quantities. (Click here for more