According to the new data presented at the International conference on antimicrobic means and chemotherapy (ICAAC), the last was in Washington (USA), the efficiency of Tamiflu – a peroral inhibitor of neuraminidase (PIN) of a virus of flu against a human and bird's virus of flu H5N1 - is confirmed. The virus of bird's flu H5N1, as the experts believe, is the most probable source of pandemic against which the old antiviral preparations are not effective. Since January of the current year the pathogenic virus strains already circulate in Vietnam and Thailand and are responsible for deaths of more than 30 people.

« These data supplement the data received in the previous researches, spent by WHO and the Center of the control and preventive maintenance of illnesses of the USA, the information on efficiency of Tamiflu against any modification of a virus of flu that can be a key to management of pandemia», – professor John Oxford has commented. « Since the stock of such antiviral means, as Tamiflu is created, we are in favourable position to guarantee readiness to the following pandemia. However, only a few states have an adequate stock. I convince the governments to follow recommendations of WHO to create the stocks of such preparations in time », – the professor has concluded.

During the last several months company « F.Hoffmann-La Roche » cooperates with many governments of the countries, discussing their needs in Tamiflu, considerably having increased the capacities that has allowed to double the production of Tamiflu in 2004 and to plan doubling release of this antiviral preparations in the future year. «We understand how it is necessary to have enough Tamiflu (oseltamivir) during epidemics of flu. To satisfy the needs, we have taken steps for increase of our capacities, despite the lacking of a plenty of constant orders », – William M. Burns, the head of the department of pharmaceutical preparations of “F.Hoffmann-La Roche” has commented.

The production of Tamiflu is a rather complicated process, it takes approximately 12 months, and it is important for governments to plan stocks of this preparation in advance, to work together with company « F.Hoffmann-La Ðîø » that in case of epidemic this anti-virus preparation was in enough.

The information on a preparation.

Oseltamivir is active against all virus strains of flu, it blocks action of enzyme neuraminidase on the surface of a virus. Owing to oppression of neuraminidase the virus of a flu loses its ability to duplication and invasion of healthy cells of an organism. Application of Tamiflu reduces weight of symptoms of flu by 38 %, frequency of secondary complications (bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis) – on 67 %, duration of flu – on 37 % and protects from infection by a virus of flu of adults and teenagers which were in close contact with infected in 89 % of cases. Application of Tamiflu for children reduces weight of symptoms and duration of disease on 36 %, risk of development of an average otitis – on 44 % in comparison with standard treatment.

The bird's flu and epidemics.

The majority of viruses of the bird's flu does not infect the person, but co-infection by bird's and human viruses of flu of the person or a pig is possible. In some cases it leads to formation of the new virus strains, to mutations and occurrence of absolutely new virus which can be transferred from animals to the person and from the person to the person. Such strain possesses absolutely new properties, therefore the vaccines developed and applied today for protection of people during seasonal epidemics, are not effective, the population remains vulnerable to an infection. Experts believe, that the following epidemy of flu can become a result of such mutation of virus strains. The World Health Organization recommends arranging preparation of a stock of such anti-virus preparations, as Tamiflu (oseltamivir), which are effective against all influenza virus strains, as a part of the plan of epidemic readiness. Tamiflu is the first and the unique tableted anti-virus preparation for treatment and preventive maintenance of the flu caused by a virus of all types.

Tamiflu:

• cures the reason, instead of hiding the symptoms
• is effective against all strains of flu
• reduces duration and complications of current of flu
• reduces risk of complications
• it is safe at long application
• it is convenient in application
• it is economically justified

One of the advantages of Tamiflu is a 5-year period of storage in usual conditions. If you have felt the first symptoms of flu, you can accept the preparation at once, not feel the symptoms of a flu on yourselves and remain able-bodied. If this year the flu epidemy didn’t touch you, then you and the members of your family are protected during 2 years from all the types of an influenza virus.

Moreover it is proved, that if someone from the members of family has fallen ill with flu, then the preventive reception of Tamiflu in a doze of 1 tablet a day reduces the probability to be ill for surrounding people in 12 times. That is why it is important to have Tamiflu in the domestic first-aid set prior before the start of influenza epidemy.

Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is a peroral anti-virus preparation for the treatment of flu, concerning to the class of inhibitor neuraminidase (INA). The preparations of this class prevent distribution of a virus of a flu in an organism and act on all clinically significant strains. Tamiflu is appointed both for preventive maintenance, and for treatment of flu.

• Highly effective treatment of a flu at reception in first two days
• It is recommended by the World Health Organization for treatment of a flu in case of development of pandemia.
• Quickly suppresses distribution of a virus to an organism: reduces severity of symptoms, reduces duration of the illness, reduces frequency of secondary complications.
• Reliable preparation for preventive maintenance of a flu at children and adults

In 1996 the company “F. Hoffmann-La Roche” has got all the rights for development and marketing of a preparation at Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California. The conclusion of a preparation to the market took place in 1999-2000 in Northern America (the USA and Canada) and Switzerland. In 2002-2003 the preparation has appeared in the European market.

Now Roche has the agreements signed with more than 65 countries about the volumes and schemes of deliveries of Tamiflu for formation of stocks. Because of a great demand on Tamiflu and durations of its production Roche has distributed messages on impossibility of performance of large orders for deliveries without the preliminary arrangement. In this connection during the last three years the company addressed to the national governments with an appeal to plan creation of stocks in advance.

In August, 2005 the company Roche has carried out a gratuitous transfer of stocks of the fast reaction, including 3 million courses of treatment with Tamiflu. In January, 2006 Roche has declared the additional donation to the WHO 2 million courses of treatment, or 20 million dozes of Tamiflu, with the purpose of the organization of regional stocks for treatment of episodes of bird’s flu or for the case of pandemia. As a whole donations for the help of patients at pandemia, transferred to the WHO, will compund 5.125 million courses of treatment.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.