gsk are listening, this is from their site:Scientists publishing...

gsk are listening, this is from their site:

Scientists publishing in Nature call for the diversification of antiviral stockpiles in preparation for an influenza pandemic

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Embargoed until Wednesday 14 May 2008, 18.00 BST

GlaxoSmithKline welcomes the online publication in Nature of the article 'The mechanism of H5N1 Influenza resistance to Tamiflu and implications for drug stockpiles' in which the authors state ''our results indicate that it would be prudent for pandemic stockpiles of oseltamivir to be augmented by additional antiviral drugs, including zanamivir.”

The recent European Medicines Agency (EMEA) guidance on this topic also states that the availability of more than one antiviral would be useful in preparing for a flu pandemic, and identifies both zanamivir and oseltamivir as candidates.1 The findings in the Nature article support this view.

The importance of diversifying pandemic antiviral stockpiles has been further reinforced by the emergence of oseltamivir resistance during the Winter 2007-08 influenza season, as documented in the publication ‘Emergence of seasonal influenza viruses type A/H1N1 with oseltamivir resistance in some European Countries at the start of the 2007-08 influenza season2, produced by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Resistance to the virus has emerged in the absence of widespread use of oseltamivir in Europe.

The ECDC report showed that in the early part of the flu season, approximately 13% of the A/H1N1 viruses from across Europe that underwent testing were found to be resistant to oseltamivir. An update of the report3, published on 30th April 2008, showed over the whole period from November to early April, this figure had increased, with 23% of samples from across Europe testing resistant to oseltamivir, with the highest level of resistance of 67% detected in Norway. Other European countries with high levels of resistance included France at 46%, Netherlands at 30% and Luxembourg at 26%. All of the oseltamivir-resistant viruses isolated remained sensitive to zanamivir.

In the Nature article, the authors highlight that the molecular basis for oseltamivir resistance observed in H5N1 virus, isolated from humans infected with the avian virus is the same as in the seasonal A/H1N1 strains. It is not know whether more widespread human infection with A/H5N1 virus will result in increased resistance to oseltamivir.

“Antiviral medicines are a key component of any flu pandemic response plan and the Nature article further highlights the important role of zanamivir in preparing for a future pandemic,” said Eddie Gray, President of GSK Pharmaceuticals Europe. “An influenza pandemic is an acute threat to public health and warrants concerted action for preparedness across Europe. As a manufacturer of both antiviral medicines and influenza vaccines, we are fully committed to supporting Governments and other organisations in their plans to counter the threat of an influenza pandemic.”

GSK has invested €1.7 billion in expanding its global manufacturing and research capabilities in both vaccines and antivirals and also in planning for the continuity of critical business operations and processes in the event of a flu pandemic, in order to safeguard the continued supply of critical medicines.

In June 2007, GSK committed to donate 50 million doses of its pre-pandemic vaccine to the World Health Organisation and to supply additional doses at tiered prices.

www.gsk.com/media/pressreleases/2008/2008_pressrelease_10044.htm