Released on = January 5, 2006, 9:34 pm

Press Release Author = Barbara Camie

Industry = Healthcare

Press Release Summary = Roche is shipping Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) directly
to wholesalers in those markets including the parts of California, Arizona, New
Mexico, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Nevada and Kansas, recently hard hit by the flue,
according to the company.

Press Release Body = Roche announced today that it has stepped up Tamiflu(R)
distribution in U.S. cities where high incidence of influenza is being reported, and
will continue to meet seasonal demand for the prescription antiviral medication.

Roche is shipping Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) directly to wholesalers in those
markets including the parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Oregon,
Nevada and Kansas, recently hard hit by the flue, according to the company.

\"When demand for Tamiflu rose last year, Roche took appropriate precautions to
ensure adequate supplies would be available for the treatment and prevention of
seasonal influenza,\" said George Abercrombie, President and CEO, Hoffmann-La Roche
Inc. \"Because of those precautionary measures, Tamiflu is readily and widely
available to patients who need it for flu treatment and prevention, while we
continue to work with governments to supply stockpiles for pandemic preparedness.\"

Last fall, Roche temporarily halted some shipments amid apparent hoarding and a
spike in demand related to worries of an avian influenza epidemic.

Tamiflu is not approved to treat avian flu, but has shown effectiveness in some
people infected with the H5N1 bird flu strain because it is a type A flu virus,
Hoffmann-La Roche spokesman Terrence Hurley said. Tamiflu targets the most common
strains of influenza types A and B.

Tamiflu is already approved for both treatment and prevention of the flu in adults
and children aged 1 year or older.

This news is prepared by the editor of http://www.flu-information.be on the basis of
current news articles and updates related to Tamiflu.


Web Site = http://www.tamiflu-information.be/tamiflu-information.be

Contact Details = Barbara Camie
2122223434
Park Avenue, Rivera
barbaracamie@gmail.com