UK Stockpiles Roche Flu Drug to Stem Fear

Britain said on Tuesday it was buying 14.6 million courses of Roche Holding AG's antiviral drug Tamiflu as part of its contingency plan against an influenza pandemic. Health Secretary John Reid said the drugs will be delivered over the next two years at a cost of about 200 million pounds ($384 million). The drugs will not prevent an influenza pandemic, which global experts believe is a question of "when," not "if," but could mitigate its effects.

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Reuters (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01378299.htm)