GSK TO PROVIDE ANTI-VIRAL FOR GOVERNMENT STOCKPILES

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced an agreement with the U.S. government to provide a stockpile of its anti-viral drug in preparation for a potential influenza pandemic.

HHS has guaranteed the purchase of $16.8 million of Relenza, an inhaled medicine approved for the prevention of influenza A and B in children and adults.

The agreement allows states, territories, and the District of Columbia to add Relenza to pandemic stockpiles at a federally subsidized price. As part of a two-year contract with the company, jurisdictions may purchase up to 15.5 million treatment courses of Relenza.

As of now, HHS has purchased roughly 4 million courses of Relenza for the Strategic National Stockpile.

The FDA approved the drug as an effective preventive treatment for influenza in March, while also identifying both Relenza and Tamiflu as candidates for government stockpiles.