22.09.2007

Roche has just had the child-size, lower strength version of its flu treatment Tamiflu (oseltamivir) approved by EU authorities, though possibly just a little too late for this year's flu season.

Roche received a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for its 30mg and 45mg dose capsules back in July, shortly after gaining approval for the lower doses in the US.

Up until now, Tamiflu had only been available as a 75mg capsule, or as a powder for oral suspension for use in children. The approval of these lower doses in capsule form will provide a much more convenient option for pediatric patients, although the syrup form will also remain available. The low-dose capsules have a considerably longer shelf-life than the suspension formulation, five years as opposed to two, and require much less storage space - significant advantages in terms of stockpiling to protect against a pandemic outbreak.