Chugai Applies For Expiration Date Extension On Stockpiled Tamiflu

The Japanese importer of the flu drug Tamiflu, Chugai Pharma, has applied to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to extend the expiration date of the product, which is stockpiled by Japanese national and local governments, from the current five years to seven years. To prepare for a possible flu pandemic, the government and local authorities have invested ¥54.4 billion to stockpile Tamiflu. Under the current expiration date, some of that stockpile will expire in two years and have to be disposed of. (Click here for more-Japanese language)