The big problem with Tamiflu production is the fact that it is so complicated to manufacture and with the whole world relying on it in the event of a bird flu pandemic low and insufficient stocks of the Tamiflu drug could have serious and dire consequences for the citizens of many countries.

However Ukmedix has learnt of a Nobel prize winning scientist who has come up with a new and innovative way of making Tamiflu. Professor Corey from Harvard with his fellow scientists have discovered a way of producing it with petrochemicals namely acrylate and butadiene and the vast majority of the production process can be performed at room temperature. As of yet the Harvard scientists have not patented their discovery.

Presently Tamiflu is produced using a very rare compound called shikimic acid that can be collected in very small quantities from a Chinese spice called star anise. With the sudden and more than expected demand for Tamiflu, Roche has had to dramatically increase production of Tamiflu but has so far not been able to meet demand.

The production of Tamiflu is hampered by the hassles of getting the shikimic acid and also from the fact that one of the chemical reaction involved uses a very explosive substance known as an azide and so for safety reasons Tamiflu is only presently made in small quantities.

With this new method the capacity to produce Tamiflu will be greatly increased.