Eric,Relenza sales in the first quarter marginally outpaced...

Eric,
Relenza sales in the first quarter marginally outpaced Tamiflu. 462 m AUD compare to 441 m AUD

SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
For the 3 months ending March 2009: http://www.roche.com/investors/ir_update/inv-update-2009-03-18b.htm
Quote:
“Global sales of Tamiflu (oseltamivir), for influenza, rose 38% overall to 401 million Swiss francs in the first quarter. Growth was driven by sales to governments and corporations for pandemic stockpiling, including significant new orders in Japan and the United Kingdom, where the governments have announced plans to double the size of their existing stockpiles of antiviral medicines. This more than compensated for lower seasonal sales, particularly in the United States, where flu outbreaks were less severe than in the 2007/2008 season.
1 Swiss Franc = 1.10 Aud Therefore 401 million Francs = 441 million AUD

And Relenza sales figure from Biota ASX Release on 23 April 09: Quote:
”Biota Holdings Limited today announced that it had received notification from GSK that Relenza sales were $462 million”


SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
http://www.roche.com/med-cor-2009-07-23-e.pdf
Quote: ”Global sales of the antiinfluenza medicine Tamiflu (oseltamivir) rose 203% to 1.0 billion Swiss francs in the first half-year, following the rapid worldwide spread of a new strain of influenza A/H1N1 (‘swine flu’)” and
“Responding to the current pandemic threat level, Roche and its network of manufacturing partners have scaled up Tamiflu production and by the start of 2010 will be able to supply up to 400 million packs annually, should the need arise. In addition, Roche some time ago granted sublicences to three manufacturers to produce generic oseltamivir for pandemic use in China, India and specified developing countries:”

And Biota ASX announcement on 23 July 2009: Quote:” BTA today announced that it had received written notification from GSK that indicative royalties for the 3 months ended June 2009 were $8.9m on Relenza sales of $122.5 million.”

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, in the month ending Jun 2009, Relenza sales for the half year totalled $584.5 m AUD ($462m + $122.5m) compared to Tamiflu sales for the half year of $1.1 billion AUD (1.0 billion Francs).

The full year (12 months) results to Jun 2009 were even worst! (I leave it to you to compare them).

It is a great tragedy Peter Cook is praising GSK’s pathetic response to the swineflu. Roche is increasing production capacity to 400 million packs p.a. compare to GSK’s pathetic planned 190 million capacity. Roche had already announced last month they had achieved the planned 400m capacity while Peter Cook kept shareholders guessing whether GSK will achieve the planned 190m by 1 Jan 2010.