Tamiflu Vaccine Slowly Going Generic

Good news if there is, one day, a bird-flu pandemic. Due to government and public pressure, Tamiflu, a wide-spectrum anti-flu vaccine, will likely be manufactured not only by Roche, but variety of drug makers around the world.

China is the latest country that Roche has granted a license to manufacture Tamiflu for domestic use. And more pharma companies are standing in line for permission to manufacture Tamiflu, says USA Today:

Last week, [US] Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the drugmaker had reached agreements with generic-drug makers Teva Pharmaceuticals and Mylan Laboratories. None of the companies last week would confirm, saying only that they were in "advanced discussions."

On Monday, Roche spokesman Terence Hurley said in an e-mail that Teva and Mylan are among the 12 potential partners with whom Roche is discussing "technology transfers and commercial terms."