Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Indonesa: The effectiveness of Tamiflu is doubtful #Birdflu #H5N1

International experts question the effectiveness and safety of Tamiflu, the main drug used to treat pandemic flu, including bird flu.

Tamiflu does shorten the duration of flu symptoms, but so far no evidence the drug is able to reduce the number of patients requiring hospital care. The experts also claim, the side effects of this medication may not be reported.

The doctors of Chochrane Collaboration, a research institute that has a network in 100 countries, reviewing 16,000 clinical test data regarding this drug. They critically question how well these drugs work as well as safety.

Carl Heneghan, one of the researchers, said that what is sought of a drug are its benefits and possible side effects. "Currently in the absence of scientific evidence we are not in a position to say benefits outweigh the side effects," he said.

The researchers also mengklim 60 percent of people involved in phase 3 clinical trials were never published. "We are concerned that these data are not in the scientific community supervision," he said.

In response, Roche as the manufacturer of Tamiflu, assuring that 80 percent of the open clinical trial data and conducted by independent scientists.

"We have a foundation of integrity and strength are supported by data on the effectiveness and safety of Tamiflu. Various clinical studies and experience in the field showed the drug is effective in reducing the severity and duration of symptoms," wrote the pharmaceutical company said in a statement.

2013, RI Vaccine Production

Dna treatment-related prevention, Bio pharma is expected to produce bird flu vaccine in bulk from 2013 after adding new facilities. "Currently the production of Bio Farma need for enlarged capacity. If the money out this year, the end of 2013 so the new facility, it is time consuming , "said Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih.

On that occasion, the Rector of the University of Indonesia Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri submit prototype bird flu vaccines to Bio Farma vaccine research as a form of cooperation that normally can reach 15 years.

Endang said that cooperation as a form of government support for national vaccine production to eliminate the dependence on imported vaccines. "UI which deliver vaccine, Bio Farma produces, then our government is buying," said Endang.

President Director of PT Bio Farma (Persero) Iskandar said it took a shortcut to speed up research. "Initial step short cut through the synergy of academia, business and government do Bio Farma to hold back the National Vaccine Research Forum," he said.

From the forum, eight consortium formed to research and development of dengue vaccine is a vaccine, malaria, AIDS / HIV, rotavirus vaccine, bird flu vaccines and new vaccine TB.Konsorsium bird flu vaccine research have produced a prototype vaccine through joint research in 2011 ago.

"The research was funded by the Ministry of Research and Technology. The consortium will continue with the research and development of vaccines and other pharmaceutical raw materials such as malaria vaccines, HIV, Rotavirus, Pnemuococcus and adjuvant vaccine," said Endang.ins

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