Past Issues

Tamiflul (Capsule 75 and Dry syrup）was approved in 2001 and 2002 respectively, as an antiviral drug for treatment of influenza type A and B and their prophylaxis.

Proved efficacy is that duration of influenza-fever is shortened only by one day.
On the other hand, soon after coming on the market, adverse events such as disturbance of consciousness, abnormal behaviour and sudden death have been reported.

Seventy per-cent of worldwide sales were in Japan during Jan-Mar in 2003.
Pandemic preparedness by the Japanese government has spent 52.9 billion yen for drug stockpiles from 2006 to 2007.

“Study on the development of symptoms with influenza” funded by The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (the MHLW), in which events with Tamiful usage would be analyzed, was carried out in 2008.
However, the interim report of outcomes included incorrect implication and treatment of the data. The final report of the study on Apr 19,2009 was that the association of Tamiful with abnormal behaviours could not be　denied.


Our activities are as follows：

2005-11-11
Campaign to enlighten the public on the website:”Do you take Tamiful despite the risks ?”

2006- 2- 5
Held a symposium coordinated with Tie-Up Group: “You may make a big mistake for measures against influenza. Neither Vaccine nor Tamiful protect you! ”

2006- 3- 6
Held the lecture at the 7 th Anniversary of Sapporo Tie-Up Group, entitled as the same as the symposium above.

2007- 3-19
Submission of a written letter entitled “Open question and request about Tamiful” to demand the urgent issue of safety information to the MHLW.
Submission of a written letter entitled “Conflict of interest regarding Tamiful” to demand the exclusion of persons with financial relationship with Roche and Chugai Pharma from the members of the MHLW-funded　study.
(During the winter season in 2007, several incidents were reported in young students after use of Tamiful.)

2007- 3-23
Submission of a written request to the MHLW, entitled “Prohibit the use of Tamiful for all ages and open all of the information regarding adverse events to the public”, against the urgent issue by the MHLW that Tamiful should not be used as a general rule for children younger than ten years old, on Mar 20 2007.

2007- 4- 2
Preparation of the revised version:”Do you take Tamiful despite the risks?”

2007- 4-12
The secretary general of Medwatcher Japan made a statement about our request at the task force for safety measures held at the MHLW.

2007-12-13
Submission of a written request to the MHLW, entitled “Procedure to investigate Tamiful usage at the task force for safety measures”

2007-12-14
Released on our website a poster for healthcare professionals: “Tamiful”

2007-12-26
Released on our website a visual poster for education: “Influenza and Tamiful”

2008- 9-12
Submission of a written request to the MHLW, entitled “Action to prohibit the use of Tamiful”, against the incorrect analysis of “Study on the development of symptoms with influenza” on Jul 10 2008.

2008-12-24
Submission of a written request to the MHLW, entitled “Open the basic data regarding the Study on the development of symptoms with influenza to the public”.

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