Roche cuts price for flu drug

Preparing for avian flu pandemic, increased production capacity for Tamiflu

There have been 252 confirmed cases in which humans contracted avian flu from infected birds, and 148 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The virus has yet to mutate to be passed on between humans, but when it does, a pandemic is expected to spread globally within weeks, because humans have little resistance to the virus.

On Friday, George Abercrombie, head of North American operations for Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, spoke about how Roche is preparing for an outbreak of avian flu during a forum at the N.C. Biotechnology Center.

Roche makes Tamiflu, one of two antiviral drugs that are effective against the avian flu virus. It also makes and markets Fuzeon, an HIV/AIDS treatment discovered by Durham-based Trimeris.

Abercrombie, a former Glaxo Wellcome executive in Research Triangle Park, talked to staff writer Sabine Vollmer about Roche's avian flu plans and Trimeris.

Q: What steps has Roche taken to prepare?

A: It takes nine to 12 months to make Tamiflu, and global sales average about 5 million courses of treatment per flu season. We cannot simply flip a switch and make Tamiflu in the case of a pandemic. To help governments stockpile the drug, Roche has lowered the price it charges governments by about 60 percent and increased production capacity to about 400 million courses of treatment per year. A course of treatment is 10 capsules.

Roche also came up with a response plan [for its own operations], which includes factoring in an employee absenteeism rate of about 40 percent at the height of an outbreak and stockpiling basic supplies to continue production.

Q: Is Roche working on a vaccine or antivirals other than Tamiflu?

A: No. Several companies, including GSK, are working on a vaccine as a first line of defense against avian flu. Roche is not a vaccine company. We're focusing on a sure bet. Tamiflu was discovered by Gilead [a California company with operations in Durham]. Roche helped develop Tamiflu and brought it to market in 1999.

For pandemic supplies, Roche has come up with special packaging. The company also is working on formulations of the powder that can be mixed with flavored syrups.

Q: Fuzeon sales are on the mend after problems early on. How is the collaboration with Trimeris going, and is there a possibility Roche could buy Trimeris?

A: Our partnership with Trimeris is a very important one. We're very happy and satisfied with the nature of our relationship now. Things are going how they should with Fuzeon, and we're working with Trimeris on follow-on compounds. I'm not going to speculate on any future business development opportunities.