Tamiflu works against deadly bird flu strain – study
By Alastair Macdonald
The Star, 21 Jan 2006

ZURICH (Reuters) - Tamiflu, the drug which many governments have stockpiled to ward off a deadly bird flu pandemic, appears to be an effective antidote to the disease if administered early enough, its maker Roche Holding AG said. 

In the wake of a study published in the Lancet medical journal, which said that drugs like Tamiflu should only be used in serious epidemics, Roche said tests on animals showed that Tamiflu could work against the current strain of the disease. 

"The results suggest that Tamiflu can prevent H5N1 mortality in animals," the company said in a statement. 

Tamiflu, the drug which many governments have stockpiled to ward off a deadly bird flu pandemic, appears to be an effective antidote to the disease if administered early enough, its maker Roche Holding AG said. A box of Tamiflu is seen displayed at a pharmacy in Hong Kong in this October 26, 2005 file photo. (REUTERS/Paul Yeung)

"However, further studies are needed to identify the optimal dose of Tamiflu administered later (24 and 48 hours) after the infection with the virulent H5N1 virus," the firm said. 

The study evaluated the efficacy of Tamiflu given to ferrets 4 hours after infection with current strain of the disease.