Cipla, the leading pharmaceutical company in India, has launched oseltamivir under the brand name of Antiflu. The only flu medicine from India to be prequalified by WHO, Antiflu would be sold under Schedule X category in India, like Virenza. These two Cipla drugs currently are the only to be widely recommended by various world health bodies. The launch comes in wake of WHO declaring flu as 'pandemic', which is anticipated to strike with the seasonal peak of winter.

Unlike paracetamol prescribed to control fever, Antiflu and Virenza directly targets the virus and blocks its replication. Best results are seen if the medicines are taken within 48 hours of symptoms. Clinical trials suggest that theses drugs can reduce suffering considerably by over 24 hours. Timely usage of the drugs can reduce health complications, requirement for antibiotics and in the elderly even chances of getting a stroke.

"Influenza, a perceivably benign condition actually kills about 2.5 to 5 lakh people every year worldwide according to WHO. These are generally the elderly or those with chronic underling conditions of the lung, heart, kidney etc. The fatality pattern this year with the 2009 H1N1 virus has been unusual with the virus attacking healthy adults and children and pregnant women," said Dr J A Gogtay, medical director, Cipla during the launch ceremony.