South Korea Seeks to Produce Generic Version of Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Pandemic Fears

Strategic Insights -

The South Korean government, concerned about the growing threat of a bird flu pandemic, is exploring ways to produce a generic version of the antiviral vaccine Tamiflu. The move comes as the government stockpiles the vaccine, amidst concerns about a possible shortage, and the World Health Organization warns of the potential for millions of deaths worldwide if the H5N1 strain mutates and becomes contagious to humans. The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) is taking the necessary steps to ensure that it can produce the vaccine without prior consent from the patent holder, Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) is considering producing a generic version of the antiviral vaccine Tamiflu, which is currently held by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche.
  • The KFDA believes that international patent laws may allow it to make a copycat version of the vaccine without prior consent from Roche, citing the exception for extreme crisis situations.
  • South Korea has a stockpile of 700,000 doses of Tamiflu and plans to purchase an additional 200,000 doses by the end of the year.
  • The government is concerned that a bird flu pandemic could have devastating consequences, with the World Health Organization warning of the potential for millions of deaths worldwide if the H5N1 strain mutates and becomes contagious to humans.
  • Avian influenza has claimed the lives of at least 60 people in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia who were infected through direct contact with sick poultry.
  • South Korea has been free from the deadly virus since March 2004.
  • The KFDA has sent a memorandum to local pharmaceutical companies to ask if any of them know how to produce Tamiflu if the exception is valid.

Statistics:

  • South Korea has a population of 48 million.
  • The government stockpiles 700,000 doses of Tamiflu.
  • The government plans to purchase an additional 200,000 doses of Tamiflu by the end of the year.
  • At least 60 people have died from avian influenza in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
  • The World Health Organization warns of the potential for millions of deaths worldwide if the H5N1 strain mutates and becomes contagious to humans.

Sources:

  • (Yonhap) Asia Pulse, Oct 19