Roche begins Tamiflu stockpile program

BASEL, Switzerland, June 27 (UPI) -- Swiss drugmaker Roche has announced a program that allows U.S. companies to stockpile their own supplies of Tamiflu to be delivered should a flu pandemic occur.

State, federal and foreign governments already have been stockpiling Tamiflu, an anti-viral drug used to prevent and treat influenza, USA Today reported.

The new program would allow corporations to do the same.

To participate in Roche's program, a company would have to commit to a minimum order of 2,500 courses of the drug at $6 each, for an annual fee of $15,000, said Roche President and Chief Eexecutive Officer George Abercrombie.

Under the agreement, Roche stores the medication, making sure it is up-to-date and secure.

The newspaper reported that once a year, companies can decide to opt out or continue the Tamiflu program.

If a company wants to take possession of its Tamiflu stockpile, the medication can be bought at the wholesale price and delivered within 48 hours, Abercrombie said.