Tamiflu Rival Does Deal With United States

The pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline annouced the details of a 16.8 million dollar deal that it has struck with the United States government for supplies of its inhaled flu vaccine called Relenza that is the main rival for the flu drug Tamiflu. The deal with GSK that is based in London will mean that as many as 15.5 million drug courses will be subsidised and is all due to the United States preparing for the the possible bird flu pandemic.

The drug Relenza has full approval from the FDA for the prevention and the treating of influenza A and B for adults and for children and unlike Tamiflu the vaccine is inhaled. Relennza has a few side effects like wheezing and even very rarely serious breathing difficulties and so people who have or even had asthma or any other lung problems should stay away from the inhaled Relenza.

The US government was criticised previously for failing to take the H5N1 virus seriously enough and it had been previously revealed that theUS was very unprepared but now it appears that they are taking the threat seriously and that things are moving ahead fast with Tamiflu and Relenza deals being anounced over the last month.

The US government has already agreed a 274 million funding deal with GSK for research and cell culture based vaccine production. Relenza is selling well with the recent bird flu scares but is considered to be second best to the WHO approved Tamiflu drug. Nevertheless Relenza sold to the tune of 12.2 million dollars in the 1st quarter of this year and this contract should lift this figure even higher.