Chugai Announces Tamiflu Supply Plan for the 2007-2008 Season

Japanese drugmaker Chugai Pharmaceutical has prepared its supply plan for the influenza drug Tamiflu, which reflects safety concerns raised earlier this year.

In February, several Japanese teenagers with influenza fell from buildings after taking Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate). Although no causal association between Tamiflu and these events has been established, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare issued safety information March 20 to restrict the use of the drug in teenage patients.

Chugai and its partner Roche are conducting additional studies to investigate these events, Chugai said.

During the current season, Chugai will supply 6 million treatment courses, which is half of the12 million treatment courses prepared previously. The company plans to develop an additional supply plan in case demand exceeds the expectation.