Australian Government Stockpiles 1.6 million Courses of Relenza

Biota Holdings has announced that the Australian government has purchased an additional 1.6 million courses of Relenza for the National Medical Stockpile to bolster supplies of antiviral drugs to treat pandemic influenza. The purchase cost is A$43 million (US$ 35.5 million).

GlaxoSmithKline Australia (GSK) has confirmed that the purchase accurately reflects a supply contract signed by GSK with the government.

On completion of the supply contract, the Australian National Medical Stockpile will include 3.4 million courses of Relenza, comprising 33 percent of the total stockpile of influenza antivirals.

Biota earns a 10 percent royalty on all Australian sales of Relenza.