U.S. should OK generic bird flu drug imports-group
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government should allow imports of generic versions of patented medicines such as Roche AG's Tamiflu to help the country prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic, a consumer group said on Friday.



Tamiflu currently is considered the first line of defense against the H5N1 avian flu virus that experts fear could spark a deadly, worldwide outbreak in people. Swiss firm Roche is under pressure to step up production to quickly fill orders from several countries that want to stockpile the drug.

Indian drugmaker Cipla said Friday it can produce generic versions of Tamiflu to help meet demand.

But the United States has vowed not to take advantage of world trade rules that would allow it to import generic medicines in the event of a health crisis, the Consumer Project on Technology said.

"There is no need to be constantly surprised and unprepared when such emergencies present themselves," the group said in a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative.

The U.S. government faced similar pressure to allow generic copies of a patented drug after the 2001 anthrax attacks. At that time, then-Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson decided against authorizing generic versions of Bayer AG's antibiotic Cipro.

"It's not the last time we are going to be in this situation. It's been twice in four years," said James Love, director of the consumer group.

The drug industry has vigorously fought efforts to permit generic copies of drugs under patent in any circumstance.

Billy Tauzin, president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said such a step "would take away incentives for other companies to undertake the difficult and costly work of searching for new antivirals and vaccines for this possible health crisis."

"The work being done by America's pharmaceutical research companies is the greatest hope of finding additional treatments and a vaccine for avian flu, and policy measures should be developed to encourage these efforts, not discourage them," Tauzin said in a statement.

Tamiflu has been effective at fighting H5N1, although researchers said Friday the virus was showing signs that it could evade the drug.

Some experts also caution that it will be difficult for generic companies to make copies of Tamiflu.