Australian govt stockpiles additional Relenza

Melbourne, Australia-based Biota Holdings says that the federal government has purchased an additional 1.6 million courses of Relenza  (zanamivir) for the National Medical Stockpile to bolster supplies of  antiviral drugs to treat pandemic influenza. The agreed price was A$43.0  million ($33.6 million).

Biota's licensee for the drug, UK drug giant GlaxoSmithKline, via its  Australian subsidiary, has confirmed that the purchase accurately  reflects a supply contract recently signed by the company with the  Australian government.

On completion of the supply contract, the Australian National Medical  Stockpile will include 3.4 million courses of the agent, comprising 33%  of the total stockpile of influenza antivirals. Biota earns a 10%  royalty on all Australian sales of Relenza.