The media have over the last few days reported on the storage of numerous expired Tamiflu capsules and their destruction in several regions.

With such inaccurate reporting, PT Roche Indonesia would like to clarify that the expired product was not Tamiflu/Roche, but rather was generic oseltamivir obtained by the Indonesian government for national stockpiling strategic purposes.

The first delivery of Tamiflu for the Indonesian government was realized in 2006. The Tamiflu capsules were produced on June 1, 2006, and will only expire on May 31, 2010.

The European Medicines Agency in its press release dated May 8, 2009, recommended an extension of Tamiflu's expiry date to seven years. However, the European Commission will only implement the recommendation if the WHO declares the pandemic status of flu (phase 6).

In Indonesia, Tamiflu secured approval from the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) in 2005 for the treatment of people with influenza and prevention of the flu virus, but based on a ministerial decree the medicine is not freely distributed through pharmacies.

Lucia Erniawati

Product & Corporate Communications Manager

PT Roche Indonesia

Jakarta

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