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GSK Offers Corporate Purchase Plan For Relenza

 

 

 

# 2273

 

 

 

 

The following decision chart comes from the Proposed Considerations for Antiviral Drug Stockpiling by Employers In Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic released in June of this year by the  HHS.   

 

 

Flow chart of planning guide, with high risk employees having a recommendation of prophylaxis, as well as those who are critical employees in a business critical to the infrastructure. Others have a suggested consideration of antiviral drugs.

 

 

 

As you can see, the HHS is recommending that `very high' and `high' risk employees be provided prophylactic antivirals by their employers during a pandemic crisis. 

 

 

Additionally, some companies that are part of the critical infrastructure are also encouraged to strongly consider providing antivirals to their key employees.

 

 

 

Last June Roche, manufacturers of Tamiflu, unveiled a corporate reservation and purchase plan for large corporations wishing to ensure they can access antivirals quickly during a pandemic crisis.  

 

 

Details of the Roche plan may be read here.

 

 

Today, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline), manufacturers of the other primary antiviral available today, Relenza, have unveiled a similar corporate purchase/reservation plan.

 

 

Here is how Maggie Fox of Reuters reports this story.

 

 

 

 

Glaxo offers corporate plan for its flu drug

 

 

Wed Sep 3, 2008 3:23pm EDT

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

 

WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) released a new plan on Wednesday for companies to stockpile its influenza drug Relenza in case of a pandemic.

 

The plan gives businesses two options: to buy Relenza now at a discount with free storage, or to pay an annual fee to reserve the flu drug for future purchase at a capped rate.

 

"We are committed to helping employers and other business leaders prepare for an influenza pandemic and its impact on the health of their employees and the operational integrity of their organizations," Chris Viehbacher, president for North American pharmaceuticals at the company, said in a statement.

 

In June, rival Roche AG (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which makes the flu drug Tamiflu, offered a similar plan.

 

Most experts agree that a pandemic of some type of influenza is certain, although no one can predict when or what strain might strike.

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