-- AmandaSheelar - 28 Oct 2005

Headline:

Governments Pressing Roche For more of Its Anti-Flu Drug

About:

Roche is a company that produces a medication called Tamiflu. In past years Tamiflu has treated the common flu. Last year Roche grossed one hundred and ten million francs. However because of the potential pandemic, bird flu they have almost tripled their gross this year, earning roughly one point two billion francs.

Roche is overwhelmed with the amount of Tamiflu needed, and at this time are unable to produce it all. The government thought that it would be wise of Roche to let other companies produce the medication for the immediate need. Roche does not believe this to be as great of an idea. They think that the companies would use it to profit themselves, and not to aid the population. This makes Roche hesitant in making any further decisions about expanding the production of Tamiflu, yet.

Thoughts:

I believe that Roche should allow companies to make Tamiflu, as well as genetic companies to produce it for a cheaper cost. If the bird flu is going to become a pandemic outbreak I find it necessary, and immorally wrong if they don’t comply. I also would think that the government would monitor these specific companies to make sure they are contributing to this dire need, not for their own benefit. Other company’s production of this medicine would only last as long as the need for Tamiflu.

There are always two sides to the story and now I will go over the scenario from Roche’s point of view. They feel that companies would not be able to make Tamiflu appropriately. They state that is an extremely difficult medication to make, that it has a complex production process. Tamiflu is also not being used right off the shelf, and going to those in need. Roche says that people are preparing so they are stockpiling the drug. Roche believes that making more would not go directly to those who actually need the product. Both of these points make sense to me. The article said that Paris is entirely sold out of Tamiflu, because of the possible pandemic. So it is obvious these drug are for the time being, not going to infected people. I am also able to understand the high risk in company’s producing the medication inappropriately. Tampered medicine could lead to an entire separate pandemic.
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