British Researchers Say Little Evidence Tamiflu Works, but WHO Says the Drug is Useful
From Canadian Press DataFile (December 8, 2009)
LONDON--British researchers say there is little evidence Tamiflu
stops complications in healthy people who catch the flu, though
public health officials contend the swine flu drug reduces flu
hospitalizations and deaths.
Researchers at the Cochrane Review, an international non-profit
that reviews health information, looked at previously published
papers on Tamiflu as used for seasonal flu. They found insufficient
data to prove whether the antiviral reduces complications like
pneumonia in otherwise healthy people but concluded the drug
shortens flu symptoms by about a day. The papers were published
online Tuesday in the British journal, BMJ.
The researchers said the benefits of Tamiflu were small and that
authorities should consider its side effects before using the drug
in healthy people. While the reviewed studies only looked at
Tamiflu use for seasonal flu, the experts said their conclusions
raised questions about the widespread use of the drug in people
with any flu-like illness, including swine flu.
Fiona Godlee, BMJ's editor, said the papers cast doubt not only on
how safe and effective Tamiflu is, but on the drug regulatory
system that approved it. ``Governments around the world have spent
billions of pounds (dollars) on a drug that the scientific
community now finds itself unable to judge,'' she said in a
statement.
But the World Health Organization disagreed. They said data from
countries around the world show that when given early, Tamiflu can
reduce the severity of swine flu symptoms, though the agency
recommends the drug be saved for people at risk of complications,
like pregnant women, the elderly, children, and those with
underlying medical problems.
``This will not change our (Tamiflu) guidelines,'' said Charles
Penn, a WHO antivirals expert. Penn said that while past studies
show Tamiflu only has a modest benefit, when patients with severe
illness or at risk of complications are treated early, there are
fewer hospitalizations and deaths.
And Roche, the maker of Tamiflu, defended the drug, saying in a
statement that they ``firmly believe in the robustness of the
data.''
Both the British researchers and WHO said there is little evidence
to support the widespread use of Tamiflu in otherwise healthy
people _ precisely the policy Britain has adopted to fight swine
flu.
In addition to recommending Tamiflu be saved for at-risk groups,
WHO recommends Tamiflu only be used on a doctor's
recommendation.
In Britain, however, Tamiflu is regularly dispensed to healthy
people who catch the flu. The drug is given out via a national
swine flu hotline by call centre workers with no medical
training.
On the Net:
www.bmj.com
www.who.int
Posted: December 2009
