[Ip-health] Generic Tamiflu Approved

[Heesob Nam]

According to some local news stories, the Korea FDA approved, on
December 9, a generic drug of Tamiflu (Tamivir Capsule manufactured by
Chong Gun Dang) for the first time in Korea. For instance, see
http://www.arirang.co.kr/Player/Player_Script.asp?vSeq=51913&code=News
or http://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_200912091015149083.

Around 10 additional local pharmaceutical companies have applied for
an approval for their generic drugs and are likely to be approved
soon. However the approval does not mean actual distribution of the
off-patent drugs. Without getting a license from Gilead Science (a
patent holder of Tamiflu), the local companies can not put their
products on the market.

Heesob