The case focuses on the challenges of Roche maintaining a supply
network for a global influenza pandemic response initiative
based on its antiviral drug Tamiflu. The Roche group is a 40
billion CHF company consisting of a pharmaceutical division and
a diagnostic division. The company's antiviral drug Tamiflu
dominates the market for prevention and treatment of seasonal
influenza (flu). Tamiflu, however, could also play an important
role in responding to the first wave of a pandemic caused by a
particularly harmful strain of the influenza virus A. Tamiflu
was designed to be effective against any strain of Type A or B
influenza. Thus, there was the potential to establish a
preparedness plan based on creating a stockpile of the drug in
conjunction with an appropriate plan for distribution to the
affected population. The use of Tamiflu in such a crisis would
allow the world to respond immediately, rather than having to
wait for development of a vaccine which had limitations in its
effectiveness and the drug had b