Roche considers licensing companies to make oseltamivir

With the gradual spread of avian influenza from East Asia to Europe, many countries were this week seeking supplies of the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which lessens the effects of flu when taken at an early stage of the illness.

Cipla, an Indian company which specialises in generic drugs, said last week that it would make its own generic version of the drug. Cipla said it could market the drug by December and could make a million 10 capsule courses of treatment by next July, a report in New Scientist says (2005;188: 14). …