Drought may affect drug ingredient
Source: Xinhua |
March 28, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE severe drought ravaging southwest China, source of an ingredient used in the anti-flu drug Tamiflu, may prompt major drug company Roche to use substitute ingredients.
Southwest China produces 85 percent of the world's star anise used in Tamiflu and production may be "substantially reduced" as a result of the drought, said Li Changxin of zyctd.com, China's biggest traditional medicine trading Website.
Two thirds of the star anise used by Tamiflu's biggest producer, F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, comes from China, said Lu Shunzhong of the Forestry Research Institute of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
But Roche spokesman Cao Yong said he was "not aware of any possible effect on Tamiflu's production posed by the drought."
Star anise is the best source of shikimic acid, an indispensable part of Tamiflu, which is used against the A/H1N1 flu, said Li Yi, secretary general of Guangxi's Flavors and Fragrances Industry Association.
While it is true a major event like the drought could have a ripple effect, star anise can be substituted and so Tamiflu's production will not be greatly affected, Cao said.
Guangxi produces 80,000 tons of the plant annually, about 85 percent of total world production, according to Guangxi Forestry Department.
"Up to 30 percent of star anise plants in Guangxi are withering," said Yang Wende, head of Guangxi's Star Anise Association.
In Yunnan Province, the second largest producing region, over 7,000 mu (466.7 hectares) will see no yield at all while 50,000 mu of star anise crops are withering, said a Yunnan forestry official surnamed Yang.
Star anise demand is expected to outweigh supply in Guangxi and its price has already tripled since early 2009, Li Yi said.
The drought has been ravaging southwest China for months, affecting 61.3 million residents and 5 million hectares of crops in Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guangxi, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Wednesday.
Demand for Tamiflu may rise sharply if the A/H1N1 flu spreads. China's export of star anise accounts for over 80 percent of the world's total.
Southwest China produces 85 percent of the world's star anise used in Tamiflu and production may be "substantially reduced" as a result of the drought, said Li Changxin of zyctd.com, China's biggest traditional medicine trading Website.
Two thirds of the star anise used by Tamiflu's biggest producer, F.Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, comes from China, said Lu Shunzhong of the Forestry Research Institute of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
But Roche spokesman Cao Yong said he was "not aware of any possible effect on Tamiflu's production posed by the drought."
Star anise is the best source of shikimic acid, an indispensable part of Tamiflu, which is used against the A/H1N1 flu, said Li Yi, secretary general of Guangxi's Flavors and Fragrances Industry Association.
While it is true a major event like the drought could have a ripple effect, star anise can be substituted and so Tamiflu's production will not be greatly affected, Cao said.
Guangxi produces 80,000 tons of the plant annually, about 85 percent of total world production, according to Guangxi Forestry Department.
"Up to 30 percent of star anise plants in Guangxi are withering," said Yang Wende, head of Guangxi's Star Anise Association.
In Yunnan Province, the second largest producing region, over 7,000 mu (466.7 hectares) will see no yield at all while 50,000 mu of star anise crops are withering, said a Yunnan forestry official surnamed Yang.
Star anise demand is expected to outweigh supply in Guangxi and its price has already tripled since early 2009, Li Yi said.
The drought has been ravaging southwest China for months, affecting 61.3 million residents and 5 million hectares of crops in Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guangxi, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Wednesday.
Demand for Tamiflu may rise sharply if the A/H1N1 flu spreads. China's export of star anise accounts for over 80 percent of the world's total.
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