Tamiflu not a panacea to shortage

The recent FDA approval of Tamiflu oseltamivir to prevent influenza infection comes in a flu season where there is a shortage of available vaccine. But the neuraminidase inhibitor developed by Gilead Sciences Inc. and partner F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. will not be replacing flu shots anytime soon, as both physicians and Roche agree that flu vaccinations remain the first line of defense against the virus, and that Tamiflu will be essentially reserved for certain subsets of the population.

"There's been volumes written on the safety and efficacy of flu vaccinations," said Robert Seidman, vice president of pharmacy at managed healthcare company WellPoint Health Networks Inc. (Thousand Oaks, Calif.). "Flu shots are still the best way to go, and Tamiflu will be reserved for patients allergic to the vaccine, or in cases of an influenza outbreak or if the vaccine is unavailable." ...