grim news....seems inevitable...., page-40

re: ..is this a dream/nightmare, hope? Dank, all the NAI drugs are sialic acid analogues with Tamiflu production starting from shikimic acid (star anise or recombinant supply - very expensive) and I understood zanamivir started from sialic acid itself. The derivative you mention is stage 2 I think. Overall Mark von Itztein said there were 7 stages compared with 9 for Tamiflu and the overall cost of production of zanamivir powder is somewhat lower than Tamiflu (but of course zanamivir then has to be mixed with lactose and repackaged in blister foils adding some additional cost.

The market will rule. Tata GSK, get onboard or get run over.