avian influenza strain H5N1 appears in gold----------------Roche Pharmaceuticals Tamiflu® capsule and packaging
Gilead Sciences invented Tamiflu® and wanted to terminate its licensing agreement with Roche Pharmaceuticals
Gilead Sciences, Inc., a bio-technology company based in Foster City, California, invented the anti-viral drug Tamiflu® and licensed its manufacture, marketing, and sales to Roche Pharmaceuticals. The patent on Tamiflu® belongs to Gilead Science, Inc.
As reported in an October 17, 2005, Tamiflu® World article:
"On June 23, 2005, Gilead Sciences, Inc., announced that it had delivered a notice of termination to F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Roche) for material breach of the parties' 1996 Development and License Agreement for Tamiflu® (oseltamivir phosphate), an antiviral pill for the treatment and prevention of influenza. Through this action, Gilead sought to terminate the 1996 agreement, which would result in the rights to Tamiflu held by Roche reverting to Gilead."
under the shadow of a global avian influenza ("bird flu") pandemic, Gilead and Roche announce an end to their dispute
In
a press release issued late today, November 15, 2005, Gilead and Roche announce that they are ending their dispute in order to facilitate a strong and coordinated response to the threat of a global avian flu pandemic.
According to this press release:
"
FOSTER CITY, CA, November 16, 2005 – Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) and Roche today announced the companies have ended their dispute related to the companies’ 1996 Development and License Agreement for Tamiflu® (oseltamivir phosphate). With increasing public concern over the threat of an influenza pandemic, in particular related to the growing incidence of avian influenza, Gilead and Roche have reached this settlement in the interest of working together to address public health needs.
Under the terms of their agreement, Gilead will receive some additional compensation, as well as "the option to co-promote Tamiflu in specialized areas in the United States," a right that Gilead says it will not exercise in 2006 and "has not yet determined whether it will exercise…in 2007 or beyond."
Roche Pharmaceuticals Medical Director Dr. Dominick Iacuzio how anti-virals such as Tamiflu® work
You can listen to an extended and detailed audio interview with Dr. Dominick Iacuzio, Roche Pharmaceuticals Medical Director, explaining how anti-virals such as Tamiflu® work, by clicking
here
Roche Pharmaceuticals answers some questions about Tamiflu®
conference call and web cast to discuss this announced settlement
At 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today, Gilead will webcast a conference call live on the company’s website to discuss this announcement. To access the live webcast or the archive via the internet, log on to
www.gilead.com Alternatively, please call 800-706-7749 (U.S.) or 617-614-3474 (international) and dial the participant passcode 36381347 to access the call. Telephone replay is available approximately two hours after the call through 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time, November 19, 2005. To access the replay, please call 888-286-8010 (U.S.) or 617-801-6888 (international) and dial the participant passcode 85062101. This webcast will be archived on
www.gilead.com for three days. Please connect to the company’s website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast.
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