Cardinal Health has signed agreements to manufacture and package Tamiflu for Roche to help meet current and future demand for the influenza medicine, which is recommended by the World Health Organization as a frontline treatment against a potential pandemic avian flu outbreak.

Under the terms of the manufacturing agreement, Cardinal will manufacture 75 mg hard gelatin capsules of Tamiflu on behalf of Roche at one of Cardinal's manufacturing sites in Europe. The companies also have arrangements in place for Tamiflu packaging and printed insert production at facilities in the U.S.

"Roche has demonstrated global leadership through its commitment to increase production in advance of a possible avian flu outbreak," said Joseph Papa, chairman and chief executive officer of the Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services segment of Cardinal Health. "Cardinal Health's pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging expertise allows companies like Roche to expand production in a timely manner. This model is vital in preparing for and responding to situations like avian flu, where rapid, cost-effective solutions are critical to success."