Roche says no resistance

ZURICH (MarketWatch) -- Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) Tuesday said there has been no increase in Tamiflu drug resistance observed in patients infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus.

"Over the last few months, there has been erroneous speculation that resistance to Tamiflu is increasing. This is an area that Roche and independent groups have been closely monitoring and there is no scientific evidence to suggest this is happening", said David Reddy, Roche's Influenza Pandemic Taskforce Leader.

"Governments can be confident that Tamiflu remains a critical drug, as recommended by the WHO, for stockpiling to prepare for an influenza pandemic and for physicians and patients to treat and prevent flu when it hits".

To date, there have only been three documented cases of Tamiflu resistance to avian influenza H5N1, Roche said.

In one case, the prophylactic dose (75 mg daily) rather than the treatment dose (75 mg twice daily) was given to a patient already exhibiting clinical symptoms, thus under-dosing the patient and increasing the risk of resistance, the company said.

Company Web Site: http://www.roche.com