Speaking at a conference of health ministers and experts from more than 20 countries, Director-General Lee Jong-wook said WHO wouldn't pressure Swiss-based Roche Holding AG to relinquish its patent on oseltamivir. Sold under the brand name Tamiflu, it is the only treatment so far proven effective against bird flu in humans.

Last month, Roche announced it would donate 3 million treatment courses of Tamiflu to a WHO-managed stockpile.

"When a company is doing its part, it (pushing for a generic option) is not a good incentive, encouragement (for the company) to do more," Lee told The Associated Press.

Lee was attending a five-day Western Pacific Regional meeting of the WHO that began Monday in Noumea, capital of the French South Pacific island of New Caledonia.

He told the conference the issue "is not owned by WHO" and that each country must develop its own strategy to fight a potential avian influenza outbreak in humans.

Many wealthy countries are stockpiling Tamiflu, but numerous poor countries in Southeast Asia — where a pandemic is considered most likely to begin — have none of the drug, or only minimal supplies.

Some countries have suggested that WHO should press Roche to relinquish its patent rights to Tamiflu, clearing the way for other companies to produce cheaper, generic versions of the drug.

"We are very keen to see generic versions of this anti-viral drug available, but we will not pressure Roche to do so (relinquish its patent)," said Peter Cordingley, a WHO spokesman.

Roche said Monday that it was cooperating with international agencies and other companies to supply the drug.

"Roche is working as a collaborative and responsible partner with governments and the World Health Organization to assist in pandemic planning, including the stockpiling of Tamiflu," Roche spokeswoman Martina Rupp said.

Bird flu has claimed 63 lives in Asia — mostly in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia — and ravaged the region's poultry stocks. Health officials in parts of Russia and Kazakhstan are also monitoring its spread.

Most human cases have been traced to direct contact with infected birds, but Lee said it was "just a matter of time" before the virus mutates into a form that is transmissible between humans, possibly killing millions of people.

"It will come," Lee said. "All the conditions are there."

Lee said WHO was "not in a position to blame" Roche for its monopoly position and that the company was cooperating with international agencies.

Lee said he hoped countries with larger Tamiflu stockpiles would make some available to WHO if a human outbreak occurs in poor nations.

"I strongly believe in the WHO's role and mandate, but this issue is not owned by the WHO, by any one member state or group of member states," Lee said. "This is a huge, huge issue that can't be handled by the WHO alone."

(Source: AP)