Egypt may make 5 mln H1N1 flu drug doses in 2010

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's health ministry will give licences to five companies to produce up to 5 million doses of generic H1N1 flu drugs in 2010, a health ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

Spokesman Abdel Rahman Shahin said the ministry has a Tamiflu supply of 5 million doses it purchased from Swiss drugmaker Roche but was looking to increase its supply through local manufacturers to 10 million in 2010.

Each dose would be sold for 75 Egyptian pounds.

"In case of higher demand for the medicinal preparation in the coming stage ... we would supply higher quantities for a lower price," Shahin said.

He added that the five companies would obtain the licences on condition that the active ingredient used in the medicine is accredited by a globally recognised organisation such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Five laboratories will also be authorised by the ministry to conduct testing for the H1N1 virus, Shahin said.

Egypt has had 3,216 cases of swine flu, including 13 deaths.

Cairo has taken various initiatives it hopes will limit the spread of H1N1 including culling all pigs in the country, temporarily closing schools and stopping feverish travellers at airports.