JSC “Olainfarm” 20.03.2006.
JSC „Olainfarm” will supply Norway with anti-viral medications
JSC „Olainfarm” in the tender procedure has received the right to supply
rimantadine hidrohloride (Remantadin ®) to Norway for creation of governmental
reserves in case of flu pandemic. Presently a contract is concluded according
to which JSC „Olainfarm” has to supply within 8 month the amount set out in
this contract – 24 millions of tablets.
Presently rimantadine hidrohloride is exported to CIS member states,
Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania and Georgia. In Latvia the purchase is being prepared
for governmental reserves in case of flu pandemic.
Turnover of JSC „Olainfarm” in the first two month of 2006 makes up
to 2 418 457 lats, or is by 33% greater then in the corresponding period of
year 2005. Sales plans of the Company for year 2006 estimate to achieve
16 100 000 of lats or to be by 31% greater then the previous year. Presently
the Company is operating according to the approved plan – the sales plan
performance has reached 102%.
Taking into account the uproar in the mass media concerning different flu varieties,
it is often questioned if JSC „Olainfarm” will be able to manufacture required
amount of rimantadine hidrohloride. Manufacturing abilities of the Company are
not endless, however, presently the Company does not see any agiotage or increase
of demand on the traditional JSC „Olainfarm” markets. The same is true about
Latvia. The amounts of rimantadine hidrohloride sold in Latvia this season are
in accordance to the prognosis, and if people will address this question rationally
and will not start creating unnecessary reserves, then no problem will arise.
It is reminded that storage term of Remantadin is 5 years.
We would like to furnish some explanation with regard to different researches
of vaccines’ and anti-viral medications’ influence on flu virus, which presently
are extensively carried out and discussed. We consider that results of theses
researches are often unreasonably served in mass media as sensation, however,
significance of these researches and other conditions always must be carefully
evaluated. The main thing to be taken into account with regard to these researches
is that those are carried out on the subject of human flu and bird flu viruses
presently circulating. The problem here is that pandemic, most probably, might be
caused by completely new virus, which will develop in result of mutation of
existing human flu and bird flu. This means that no one can presently say what the
specific virus will be. Therefore, presently it is not possible to develop the
vaccine or define which medication will be most effective in case of pandemic,
and all statements, that one or another medication will be more efficient, are
speculative in nature. Creation of vaccine will require 5-6 month from the moment
when virus circulation starts. Within this term the virus will be able to get
around in a very wide regions and the only possible protection might be 4 anti-viral
medications presently in use. Therefore, also WHO (World Health Organization) has
suggested to create reserves of these medications in order to secure protection for
at least 25% of residents in each country.
In Latvia as well the researches of presently circulating viruses have been carried
out, results of which will be available after the end of this year flu epidemic or
when the necessary amount of research materials will be reached. However, results
presently available indicate that rimantadine hidrohloride is still efficient for
treatment of A type human flu virus and corresponding virus has not become resistant
to the mentioned medication. Therefore, the concerns expressed by scientists at
the end of last year based on virus genetics researches preformed in USA, have not
been confirmed in Latvia.
JSC „Olainfarm” considers that Latvian residents are sufficiently instructed and
have shown understanding with regard to creation of medications’ reserves in case
of flu. Judging by demand for rimantadine hidrohloride up to now, it has been
purchased for actual routine needs during the flu epidemic and unnecessary reserves
have not been created. We are calling upon mass media to serve received information
after its evaluation, best when previously consulting with specialists, in order
not to create any unwanted uproar. Specialists of our Company have as well never
tried to enhance tension, but to do it other way around – supplied mass media with
information reflecting the real situation. From all mentioned above, we hope that
further on there will be no such situation as in many other countries where
anti-viral medications are bought off the pharmacy stores in inadequate amounts.
in Olaine, on March 20, 2006
Prepared by Viktorija Zhuka-Nikulina
Member of the Board
Head of legal department
JSC „Olainfarm”
Phone 7013 870, 9473980
Fax 7013 777
e-mail: vzuk@olainfarm.lv
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