The eBay auction website has had to remove Tamiflu from its listings due to the announcement that it is a prescription medication, and thus, eBay is not allowed to facilitate its sale online.
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Tamiflu by Roche |
The reality is that the price of Tamiflu is skyrocketing: it has increased to $17.4 per pill since yesterday afternoon.
The usual retail price of Tamiflu in the European market is around $4.4 – $5.3 per pill (medications for national reserves are much cheaper).
Virus Detection Microchip STMicroelectronics has announced the successful development of a microchip capable of accurately and quickly detecting viruses and pathogens. Project director Stefano Lopriore told the BBC that their product could be used to test for the H5N1 virus. If achieved, this would be an exciting success as the microchip can provide accurate results in about one hour. STMicroelectronics plans to launch the product by the end of 2006. More importantly, the retail price of the product will not exceed $100, making it accessible for developing countries. (N.Quân – BBC) |
The reason is not hard to understand: avian influenza poses a looming threat to the world. Currently, Tamiflu is the primary medication for treating avian flu in humans. Most countries are advised to stockpile sufficient Tamiflu as a precaution. It seems that this fear is only enriching Roche, the Swiss manufacturer, and savvy speculators.
Roche reported that sales of Tamiflu have increased by 20% in the first three quarters of the year compared to the same period last year, totaling $6.78 billion. Roche also announced plans to open a new factory in the United States to meet demand. Under pressure from the public, Roche has stated its willingness to license other companies to produce the drug. However, many countries believe that these “concessions” are still inadequate given the current threat of a pandemic.
Yesterday, Senator Chuck Schumer from New York demanded that Roche relinquish its production rights to Tamiflu (which are valid until 2016) within one month, allowing other countries to produce the drug freely, or risk action from the U.S. Congress. “Roche is putting its interests above the health of the world. They should not proceed so slowly while we face a potential pandemic that could arise at any moment,” Senator Schumer stated.
Meanwhile, UN Coordinator David Nabarro called for each country to appoint a minister responsible for coordinating responses to avian flu. “I want to see a person in every government empowered to bring all parts of the government together to prepare thoroughly and respond quickly to the outbreak.
The key to combating this threat is that governments must act decisively. Just as with SARS or any other flu outbreak,” he emphasized.
In Europe, the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) declared that the spread of avian flu from Asia to Europe is a global threat. They urged international cooperation and called for the EU executive committee to expedite the establishment of stronger laws to combat avian influenza. Meanwhile, Romania reported that a swan carrying avian flu antibodies had been discovered near the border with Ukraine.
In Africa, experts warn that the region may suffer the most severe consequences of avian influenza due to chicken being a primary source of protein and the poverty and underdevelopment in healthcare systems. China, on the other hand, acknowledged that an outbreak two months ago in Inner Mongolia was caused by the H5N1 virus but also stated that it has controlled the outbreak.
THỦY TÙNG (According to Bloomberg, Korea Times, Reuters, AP)
