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Article: ROCHE PLEDGES TO BOOST PRODUCTION OF ANTIVIRAL DRUGS.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- European Report
- Article date:
- November 5, 2005
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Swiss pharmaceuticals group Roche has pledged to increase production capacity for antiviral drugs in response to the threat of a flu pandemic. CEO Franz Humer, who met Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou on November 3, has also indicated that patents will not obstruct production and that his firm would be prepared to sign licensing agreements permitting other laboratories to manufacture antiviral drugs. Tamiflu, the antiviral drug on which Roche holds a monopoly, is currently regarded as the most effective medicine for dealing with a possible avian influenza pandemic.
Mr Kyprianou received an informal mandate from the EU Health Ministers at their October 20 ...