Profits from the Swine Flu

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/business/24roche.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1252335790-lSfZrwg7ZLzVaqkjRhpqTg

New York Times from 7/23/09 article detailing the sales of Tamiflu

Roche, based in Switzerland, said Thursday that sales of Tamiflu in the first half of 2009 tripled to 1 billion Swiss francs ($931 million), spurred by retail sales and the stockpiling of the drug by governments and corporations.
For the second quarter alone, Tamiflu sales reached 609 million francs ($567 million), more than 12 times the level of the second quarter of 2008. The second quarter, from April to June, is not usually a heavy season for flu.

AND

Still, Mr. Schwan said that Roche, in cooperation with outside contractors, would increase its manufacturing capacity to 400 million packs a year by the beginning of 2010, about four times the current capacity.
He said that should be an ample volume, given that the company sold a total of only 300 million packs during the last five years — a period that encompassed a bird flu scare as well as the current swine flu outbreak.

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But back in 2008, things weren't looking so hot for Roche

http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail12237.htm

The Losers
Meanwhile, sales of influenza treatment Tamiflu (oseltamivir) plummeted by a whopping 64% y/y. The plunge is explained both by a high baseline for the first quarter of 2007 and slowing demand as government stockpiles near completion (see Switzerland: 12 October 2007: Roche Braced for Tamiflu Sales Slowdown as Government Stockpiles Reach Saturation)



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http://www.cashive.com/2009/08/14/roche-rosw-swine-flu-stocks-to-watch/

Roche can make money off Tamiflu AND rapid flu tests

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But it does cost money for Roche

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2008&strID=C00072769

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here's a press release from Roche disguised as a news story on the front page of yahoo news

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090907/ap_on_re_eu/eu_switzerland_roche_tamiflu