Roche said supply significantly exceeds current Tamiflu orders, and so it is tailoring its production schedule to this current demand. Roche has orders from governments amounting to about 215 million treatments in total. However in the event of a pandemic Roche would have the cpacity to scale up production.
“Today we can satisfy significant additional orders from governments and corporations and unless the demand picks up Roche will be tailoring its production schedule accordingly. These measures include maintaining a buffer stock at all times while remaining in close contact with our manufacturing partners to respond speedily to a surge in demand,” said William Burns, CEO of Roche Pharma.
Roche has been working closely with WHO and national governments to ensure governments are aware of the importance of stockpiling antivirals in the event of a pandemic situation. Roche has received and fulfilled pandemic orders for Tamiflu from more than 80 countries worldwide.