Is Tamiflu a waste?
April 14, 2014
Research has questioned the
effectiveness of the antiviral Tamiflu
(oseltamivir) in reducing admissions
to hospital or the complications of
influenza.
An evidence review conducted
by the Cochrane Collaboration and
published in the British Medical
Journal, found that the influenza
treatment shortened symptoms by
half a day but found “little to justify
any belief that it reduces hospital
admission or the risk of developing
confirmed pneumonia.”
The review was based on internal
reports of 20 Tamiflu and 26
Relenza trials, involving more
than 24,000 people, the Cochrane
Collaboration said.
Access to more complete reports
from manufacturers had aided the
updated review, following originally
incomplete evidence presented to
agencies in 2009, the organisation
said.
“Along with the evidence of
harms from the medication, it
raises the question of whether
global stockpiling of the drugs is
still justifiable given the lack of
reliable evidence to support the
original claims of its benefits.”
The group said the US had spent
over US$1.3b buying a reserve of
antivirals, while the UK government
spent £424m on about 40m doses.
A Federal Department of Health
(DoH) spokeswoman said the
National Medical Stockpile, which
contained both drugs in quantities
“comparable with other nations’
stockpiles”, was valued at $192m.
The DoH looked forward to the
publication of the review, and took
advice from key agencies including
the World Health Organisation
when determining stockpile
requirements and levels, she said.
“The Department continuously
reviews available evidence and
advises the Australian Government
on policies as necessary on a range
of health protection activities
including antivirals.”
Australia was currently revising its
Pandemic Plan, with points being
taken into consideration including
that antivirals could be used during
a pandemic to treat infected cases
or as a prophylactic, she said.
The New Zealand government
threw out almost 1.5m doses of
expired Tamiflu after only 55,000
doses were used during the 2009
H1N1 pandemic (PD 27 Feb).
To read the Cochrane study, CLICK
HERE.
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