Korea advances Tamiflu compulsory license issue

The Korean Food and Drug administration is considering whether it should invoke a compulsory license on Roche’s anti-flu medication, Tamiflu.  The agency has sought input from Korean drug manufacturers to determine if any would be capable of making the drug.

This Korean approach, in which a governmental agency appears to be taking the lead role on the issue, stands in stark contrast to the approach seen thus far in India, where a generic drug manufacturing firm is advancing the issue.

Roche has estimated that it would take nearly a year for a company to be ready to manufacture Tamiflu if it were starting from scratch.

See this article for more information on the Korean situation.