WHO chief won't push for generic bird-flu drug

NOUMEA, New Caledonia — The World Health Organization yesterday rejected suggestions that it push for a lower-cost, generic version of a patented drug to treat people with the deadly bird-flu virus in poor countries.

Speaking at a conference of health ministers and experts from more than 20 countries, Director-General Lee Jong-wook said WHO wouldn't pressure Swiss-based Roche Holding to relinquish its patent on oseltamivir. Sold under the brand name Tamiflu, it is the only treatment so far proven effective against bird flu in humans.

Last month, Roche said it would donate 3 million treatment courses of Tamiflu to a WHO-managed stockpile.

"When a company is doing its part, it [pushing for a generic option] is not a good incentive, encouragement [for the company] to do more," Lee said.

Lee was attending a five-day Western Pacific Regional meeting of the WHO that began yesterday in Noumea, capital of the French South Pacific island of New Caledonia.

He told the conference the issue "is not owned by WHO" and that each country must develop its own strategy to fight a potential avian-influenza outbreak in humans.

Many wealthy countries are stockpiling Tamiflu, but numerous poor countries in Southeast Asia — where a pandemic is considered most likely to begin — have none of the drug, or only minimal supplies.

Bird flu has claimed 63 lives in Asia — mostly in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia — and ravaged the region's poultry stocks.

Health officials in parts of Russia and Kazakhstan also are monitoring its spread.