E-DRUG: Oseltamivir expiry date
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Dear colleagues,
The shelf-life of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) varies both within and between
the countries. In Australia, if it is a Government purchase it is 5
years, although retail it is 2 years, in the USA it is 3 years and in
Japan it has been extended to 7 years.
It has been reported that Roche has data showing the drug is still
active at seven years, see:
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/04/20/flu-pandemic-stockpile.html
An article in Nature suggested that oseltamivir can be kept on the shelf
for at least ten years without losing activity, see:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v435/n7041/full/435407a.html
The issue is important because a spokesman for Australian Health
Minister Nicola Roxon said that 1.6 million packs were removed from the
Commonwealth's stockpile this month because they had passed their 5 year
use-by date.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25419362-421,00.html
Is shelf-life another rort for pharmaceutical companies?
Cheers,
Ken
Dr. Ken Harvey
Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health, La Trobe University
Australia
http://www.medreach.com.au
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