Flu vaccine maker won't share patent (Roche won't allow Generic)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/10/13/MNG39F7MNG1.DTL&type=health

Tamiflu, a pricey antiviral pill invented in a Bay Area lab and made in part from a spice used in Chinese cookery, has emerged as the world's first line of defense against bird flu should the deadly strain begin its feared spread among human beings.

As nations begin to stockpile the drug in anticipation of a flu pandemic, calls are mounting for countries to sidestep patents on the drug -- as Brazil first did for AIDS medications -- and make their own generic versions.

But Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche, which acquired rights to the drug from Gilead Sciences Inc. of Foster City in 1996, said Wednesday it had no intention of letting others make it.

"Roche ... fully intends to remain the sole manufacturer of Tamiflu,'' said company spokesman Terry Hurley.

The immediate problem is not the cost of Tamiflu, which runs about $60 for a 10-pill course of treatment, but a staggering gap between the sudden demand for it and the capacity of its sole manufacturer to produce it.

Despicable!

[Theres-a]

1. Bastards.

[tonkatoy57]

2. Raw Capitalism is a Frightening Thing to Behold

I wonder if there is precedence for government legally being able to say, "Uh sorry big guy, turn over the formula so we can get this show on the road"?

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

39. just think if they could cure CANCER with one drug-they'd go BROKE

oops!
they already can!
There certainly ARE cures available for nearly every type of cancer
(limited to the ultra ultra rich or desireable class-administered under oath of absolute secrecy--that's why you always hear of these miraculous recoveries by "olympic altheletes" and corporate "empire owners"-only the top of the top of the top)--

the Pharmies would lose much of that fine fine cash if they released any "real" cures.

just another intuitive psychic voodoo observation from me- a Looziana raizd gris gris craizd main ee ack

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. Damn. I can find generic Viagra, Levitra, but can't find generic tamiflu

I've looked but you have to buy the roche brand. Doesn't matter if it's still patented, there are companies that will make it if there's enough demand. Google generic viagra and see what I mean.

[Cactus44]

4. How fast they can ramp up production

will determine wether I call them any names or not.

I'm not against companies profiting from a patent, and if they can meet the demand then bully for them. But if people start dying becasue they won't grant any variances then I'll be pissed.

[hogwyld]

5. The French hate us

That's what the wingos will say. They're jealous of our freedoms. Seriously, I'm sure if it gets that bad, they'll ignore the patent and deal with the consequences later.

[Tight_rope]

6. What do you expect!....

Make profits is far more a priority then saving lives. :kick:

[mike_c]

7. Roche will watch people die to protect its profits....

Pigs.

[PSPS]

8. This means nothing

Just ignore Roche and proceed with the manufacture. There's nothing they can do about it. I suppose they could sue, but it would never go anywhere.

[sarcasmo]

9. Blood will be on their hands.

[Mojorabbit]

10. Well I looked it up

and tamiflu is made from star anise. I wonder if a tea made from this would work.

[RamboLiberal]

12. Made we wonder what a Chinese herbalist could do

But looks like they have production of star anise tied up. Better stay friends with China. From article:

Most of the world production of star anise is located in four provinces of China, and the supply of it has been back ordered, primarily for drug production.

Star Anise
Illicium verum
syn: I. anisatum
Fam: Magnoliaceae

Native to China and Vietnam, star anise is today grown almost exclusively in southern China, Indo-China, and Japan. It was first introduced into Europe in the seventeenth century. The oil, produced by a process of steam extraction, is substituted for European aniseed in commercial drinks.

Spice Description
Star anise is the unusual fruit of a small oriental tree. It is, as the name suggests, star shaped, radiating between five and ten pointed boat-shaped sections, about eight on average. These hard sections are seed pods. Tough skinned and rust coloured, they measure up to 3cm (1-1/4”) long. The fruit is picked before it can ripen, and dried. The stars are available whole, or ground to a red-brown powder.
Bouquet: Powerful and liquorice-like, more pungent and stronger than anise.
Flavour: Evocative of a bitter aniseed, of which flavour star anise is a harsher version. Nervertheless, the use of star anise ensures an authentic touch in the preparation of certain Chinese dishes.
Hotness Scale: 3

Preparation and Storage
The whole stars can be added directly to the cooking pot; pieces are variously referred to as segments, points and sections. Otherwise, grind the whole stars as required. Small amounts are used, as the spice is powerful. Stored whole in airtight containers, it keeps for well over a year.

Culinary Uses
Star anise is used in the East as aniseed is in the West. Apart from its use in sweetmeats and confectionery, where sweeteners must be added, it contributes to meat and poultry dishes, combining especially well with pork and duck. In Chinese red cooking, where the ingredients are simmered for a lengthy period in dark soy sauce, star anise is nearly always added to beef and chicken dishes. Chinese stocks and soups very often contain the spice.. It flavours marbled eggs, a decorative Chinese hors d’oeuvre or snack. Mandarins with jaded palates chew the whole dried fruit habitually as a post-prandial digestant and breath sweetener - an oriental comfit. In the West, star anise is added in fruit compotes and jams, and in the manufacture of anise-flavoured liqueurs, the best known being anisette. It is an ingredient of the mixture known as “Chinese Five Spices”.

More at:
http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/staranis.html

[Mojorabbit]

15. I think this might be

part of the problem. If they have to wait for the plant to bear seed and it only grows in a limited area....
the Japanese star anise is toxic but not the Chinese star anise.
I had read that it takes eight months to a year to make the drug. Perhaps this is why...limited supplies of the plant?

[eShirl]

11. Tamiflu is not a vaccine, it is an anti-viral medication

just sayin'

[mzmolly]

14. "Flu vaccine maker won't share patent" - is the title of the story

however.

[kestrel91316]

26. More stupid, clueless, misinformed journalists at work...............

a vaccine is a derivative of a virus which, when administered serves to stimulate the immune system to protect against infection by the virus.

Tamiflu is a prescription drug (chemical) which is administered to either prevent the development or manage the symptoms of infevtion with a virus.

"Because Americans aren't confused enough as it is............."

[mzmolly]

43. I wondered if they mfgr a vax and the anti-viral drug?

But, that title is a bit odd.

[kestrel91316]

25. CORRECT. You get the gold star this evening.

[mzmolly]

13. Gosh, I always thought the drug companies had OUR best interests

at heart?! hmmmmmmm :freak:

[Endangered Specie]

16. Another example of what un-regulated capitalism will do.

[superconnected]

17. Gilead Sciences Inc?

A religious reference. Remember the Handmaids tale. Weren't they in the Republic of Gilead or smth close to that - of Gilead. I believe its also a place in Israel, but usually it's brought up with Christian references.

nope.. Jordan.

Gil·e·ad - A mountainous region of ancient Palestine east of the Jordan River in what is now northwest Jordan.

I googled it and found the phrase "Jesus is in the Balm of Gilead".

[pelagius]

23. It's an old African-American hymn that quotes the Bible...

http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/t/t429.html

[kestrel91316]

27. I find it rather ominous that when this company was formed,

it was just a few years after The Handmaid's Tale was published. I get the creepy feeling that the founders of the company named it for the Republic of Gilead, and that they may have a plan for when the pandemic hits, and it won't be in OUR best interests.

..........just a funny feeling I am getting.

[superconnected]

38. Since Donald Rumsfield was on its board of directors

I have to say, it's the republican way. It's what they've been telling women all along if you look at the way they vote and what they say they stand for.

[warrens]

18. Lemme get this straight...

The reason they won't make more is that flu vaccines are unprofitable, but they won't allow others to make it because it's profitable.

There's a reason people hate drug companies.

[superconnected]

19. And of course Roache executives are in with Carlyle

"Carlyle's advisory boards in Europe, Asia and Japan are peppered with executives from major corporations, such as Nestle, Roche, BMW, Toshiba and Fujitsu, and such men of influence as Karl Otto Pohl, the former president of Germany's Bundesbank. "

http://www.atimes.com/china/DC20Ad02.html

And there are over 9000 links for Carlyle and Tamiflu. Gee you can even get it at Carlyles pharmacy.

http://www.drugdelivery.ca/yy-US-30-1715229-yy/Carlyle-Pharmacy.aspx

Okay, this online pharmacy selling Tamiflu goes to the carlyle group. The IL pharmacy doesn't have a definite link so I pulled it.

Apparently Tamiflu can't be given to infants.

[NCPatriot]

29. Why stop there - the plot thickens

The Big Dog - Donald Rumsfeld (wiki) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumsfeld

Gilead Sciences, the company that originally developed "Tamiflu" and holds considerable rights to the product, was steered by none other than Donald Rumsfeld up until his new job in 2001.

Think he still has a major stake in stock?

[superconnected]

37. Wow, thanks for pointing that out!

Another link substantiating it:

"Mr. Rumsfeld served as Chairman of the Board of Gilead Sciences, Inc., a pharmaceutical company."

http://www.defenselink.mil/bios/rumsfeld.html

[Timmy5835]

20. Considering.......

The Univ. of Rochester has a working bird flu vaccine in the works, who cares about Tamiflu.

[jean]

21. tell us more please - and welcome!

[chat_noir]

22. SF Gate polls

There's one for Roche...and a few more you may be interested in.

http://www.sfgate.com/polls/

[mom cat]

24. Who says the Repukes don't have a population control plan?

[Psephos]

34. They may, but Roche is a Swiss company

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. is the US subsidiary of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, which operates in 60 countries, with corporate headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

Peace.

[Psephos]

35. self delete - dupe

[paineinthearse]

28. DU had this two days ago

Roche and its lobbying group resist compulsory licensing of Tamiflu
Topic started by paineinthearse on Oct-11-05 10:35 AM (5 replies)
Last modified by sparosnare on Oct-11-05 11:16 PM

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=5031024

Source: http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10003581.shtml, based on a NYT report.

The is two days late and two dollars short.

Try again, Chronicle.:freak:

[SaveElmer]

30. This is where government is supposed to step in...

And force companies to do the right thing...they are the refuge of last resort...it is their job!!!

[Occulus]

31. Steal the data, upload it to the net, and burn their assets to the ground.

Metaphorically speaking, of course. I wouldn't want to encourage violence.

:silly:

But seriously, put them out of business NOW. They do not deserve the license. Make everything they know public information as punishment.

[lovuian]

32. Oh believe me when there is an epidemic patent or no patent

this will be made by other countries who does Roche think they are???

[Miss Chybil]

33. Some official in Europe said they couldn't make the vaccine because

they didn't have the virus. How does anybody know this Tamiflu will work, anyway?

[Psephos]

36. There is another drug that competes with Tamiflu called Relenza

It was developed in Australia by researchers funded by GlaxoSmithKline working together with CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and the Victorian College of Pharmacy. The patent is held by Biota Holdings, and Glaxo has exclusive license to market the drug.

Neither Tamiflu nor Relenza is a vaccine. They cannot and will not prevent an epidemic. The article is misleading when it says that Tamiflu is "the world's first line of defense against the deadly bird flu...". First off, these drugs don't prevent infection. Second, they don't make a person uninfectious. They won't prevent virus from moving through a population.

Tamiflu and Relenza can, however, lessen the impact of an influenza infection in a person, sometimes to the point where the person feels only mildly ill, or even, not ill at all. These drugs work by slowing down the spread of flu virus from infected cells to nearby uninfected cells inside the body, by interfering with enzymes the virus uses to penetrate cell walls.

Vaccines work by stimulating an antibody response from the body's immune system. An effective vaccine can prevent infection from ever occurring, and so, stop the transmission of virus from one person to another. The problem is that the virus mutates so rapidly that it's nearly impossible to predict what form it will have taken by the time it starts causing epidemic infection. This makes it risky to stockpile vaccines that may end up providing little or no protection against the mutated form of the virus.

Peace.

[Bridget Burke]

40. Question about the people "stockpiling" Tamiflu....

That is, private citizens who've obtained doses for their familis...

Won't they be tempted to take it when ANY symptoms appear? A bad cold can make you feel miserable for a while, but it is NOT influenza. Will these people wait for a diagnosis or just take the medicine in a blind panic?

[Psephos]

42. Good question...

and I think I know the answer. :-/

Peace

[truthisfreedom]

41. it's time to nationalize the pharmecutical industry once and for all.

this is completely irresponsible behavior by a company that might control the fate of millions of lives during the coming year.

[Mojorabbit]

44. India

says it will make it anyway.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20051014&ID=5191715
BOMBAY, India (AP) - A major Indian pharmaceutical company said Friday it plans to bring a generic version of the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu into the market early next year, filling any potential shortages in event of a bird flu epidemic.
snip

Dr. Yusuf K. Hamied, chairman of Cipla Ltd., said that his company has already developed the generic version, oseltamivir, which would be much cheaper than Tamiflu -- the only available drug that is effective in treatment of people infected with bird flu.
snip

"We will take the measures to make sure poor and rich have access to the medications and the vaccines required," Annan said at the time.

Scientists in Taiwan have recently said they, too, can produce generic Tamiflu, if patent issues are resolved.

Generic manufacturers cannot legally sell the patented drug in the West and in many countries in Asia, including India, which recently tightened its patent laws. But the laws in many of these countries allow governments to invalidate patents during emergencies and permit sale of generics.

Hamied didn't say how and where he plans to sell his product, but insisted he won't "break the law."

"Anyone who wants the drug can purchase it from us," he said. "May be people in America and Europe would want to buy it from us, but they are governed by their own patents."

Roche declined a direct comment on Cipla's announcement.