Hetero Signs Agreement With Roche For Tamiflu

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has granted Hetero Drugs a sub-license for the production and marketing of Oseltamivir (generic "Tamiflu"). Under the sub-licensing agreement, agreed on 21st December, 2005, Roche authorizes Hetero to manufacture and market both the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and finished product of Oseltamivir, for supply to India, least developed countries and developing countries.

Hetero has committed to delivering one million capsules of Oseltamivir to the Government of India by the 15th January, 2006 and will start fulfilling orders for least developed and developing countries starting January, 2006.

Avian influenza has become a potential global health threat, and Oseltamivir is currently the most effective drug for the treatment of avian influenza in humans. The sub-licensing agreement between Roche and Hetero aims to increase available supplies of Tamiflu for pandemic use by Governments in developing and least developed countries, and is the first of its kind by a multinational firm with an Indian company.

"Hetero commends Roche's commitment to increasing the availability of Tamiflu for Government pandemic stockpiling. Hetero is capable of fulfilling Roche's objective of addressing the needs of least developed and developing countries in preparing for a pandemic by increasing supplies of Oseltamivir" ---- Dr. B. Parthasaradhi Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director, Hetero Group of Companies.

Following approval from the Government of India to manufacture and market a generic version of Oseltamivir, Hetero began investing in the manufacturing of Oseltamivir two and a half years ago Hetero is currently the only company which is in the advanced stages of the production process for a generic version of Oseltamivir with the result of present agreement Hetero with its huge capacities can fulfil total requirement of Indian market.

SOURCE: Hetero