Americans Can Monitor U.S. Flu Rates on the First-Ever Desktop Flu Tracker

Americans Can Monitor U.S. Flu Rates on the First-Ever Desktop Flu Tracker

Breakthrough Technology Makes Customized Flu Data Easily Accessible From Home or Office Computer

NUTLEY, N.J., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche announced the launch of its new Desktop Flu Tracker, which allows users to conveniently and accurately track the appearance and spread of flu in any community in the continental United States. A valuable tool for consumers, medical professionals, caregivers and public health officials, Flu Tracker allows people to monitor flu incidence in their area, an important step in influenza preparedness.

Developed with AdTools Inc., the unique software application provides up- to-date information about local and national flu levels 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Flu Tracker also alerts the user when there is an increased risk in the area, and links directly to expert information on prevention and treatment.

The Desktop Flu Tracker utilizes information from FluSTAR(TM) (System for Tracking And Reporting Flu), a comprehensive surveillance system that provides reliable reporting of flu activity nationwide, and is updated twice weekly. The Desktop Flu Tracker can be downloaded at http://www.tamiflu.com/ or by clicking here: http://www.tamiflu.com/flutracker.

"With this season's vaccine shortage, Americans are increasingly concerned about protecting themselves and their families from the flu," said Dominick Iacuzio, PhD, Medical Director, Roche, which markets Tamiflu, a prescription antiviral for influenza. "Flu Tracker offers consumers and healthcare providers alike an opportunity to identify flu outbreaks in their area, making it more likely that patients will recognize their symptoms and seek early treatment from a healthcare professional."

The Desktop Flu Tracker can be programmed to cover three geographic locations, offering the ability to monitor for family and friends in other areas. The software includes an animated character, which delivers alerts and demonstrates the differences between cold and flu, so that users may better understand their symptoms.

"FluTracker is designed to not only help individuals track flu, but also to provide immediate access to expert information," added Dr. Iacuzio. "It gives an opportunity to take extra precautions against infection, such as visiting a doctor or taking an antiviral medication, which needs to happen within the first 48 hours of symptom onset to be effective."

Unlike many desktop programs, the Flu Tracker is not bundled with any additional programs and does not send personal information from the user's desktop to any other computer.

About Tamiflu

Tamiflu is a prescription antiviral approved for the treatment of influenza in patients one year and older. Tamiflu is an effective treatment, and can reduce the duration and severity of the flu when taken within two days of symptom onset. Tamiflu is also approved for the prevention of influenza in adults and adolescents 13 years and older. Clinical trials have shown Tamiflu to be up to 92 percent effective in preventing influenza illness when taken once daily for at least seven days. Frequently reported adverse events include nausea and vomiting.

Tamiflu, co-developed by Roche and Gilead Sciences, Inc., is a systemic treatment for the most common strains of influenza (types A and B). The medication targets one of the two major surface structures of the influenza virus, the neuraminidase protein. The neuraminidase site is virtually the same in the most common strains of influenza, types A and B. Tamiflu attacks the influenza virus and is thought to work by stopping it from spreading inside the body. Tamiflu treats flu at its source, by attacking the virus that causes the flu, rather than simply masking symptoms.

Tamiflu is generally well tolerated. In treatment studies in adults, the most frequently reported adverse events were mild-to-moderate transient nausea and vomiting. Other events reported more frequently than with placebo were bronchitis, insomnia and vertigo. In prophylaxis studies in patients aged 13 and older, adverse events were qualitatively similar to those seen in the treatment studies despite a longer duration of dosing. Events reported more frequently in subjects receiving Tamiflu compared to subjects receiving placebo in prophylaxis studies included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, insomnia, headache, vertigo and fatigue.

In pediatric treatment studies, the most frequently reported adverse event was vomiting. Other events reported more frequently by pediatric patients treated with Tamiflu included abdominal pain, epistaxis, ear disorder and conjunctivitis. These events generally occurred once and resolved despite continued dosing.

Efficacy of Tamiflu in the treatment of subjects with chronic cardiac disease and/or respiratory disease has not been established. Safety and efficacy of repeated treatment or prophylaxis courses have not been studied.

Vaccination is considered the first line of defense against influenza.

Tamiflu was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of uncomplicated acute illness due to influenza infection in adults in October 1999. The FDA granted marketing approval for the prevention of naturally occurring influenza A and B in adults and adolescents 13 years and older in November 2000. The FDA granted marketing approval of the oral suspension for use in the treatment of influenza A and B in children one year and older in December 2000. Tamiflu oral suspension is used for pediatric patients one year and older or adult patients who cannot swallow a capsule. Tamiflu is the first and only liquid suspension to treat influenza A and B.

Tamiflu is available for the treatment of influenza in more than 40 countries worldwide. For more information visit http://www.tamiflu.com/

About Roche

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), based in Nutley, N.J., is the U.S. prescription drug unit of the Roche Group, a leading research-based health care enterprise that ranks among the world's leaders in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche discovers, develops, manufactures and markets numerous important prescription drugs that enhance people's health, well-being and quality of life. Among the company's areas of therapeutic interest are: dermatology; genitourinary disease; infectious diseases, including influenza; inflammation, including arthritis; metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes; neurology; oncology; osteoporosis; transplantation; vascular diseases; and virology, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. For more information on the Roche pharmaceuticals business in the United States, visit the company's web site at: http://www.rocheusa.com/

About AdTools

AdTools employs its proprietary Desktop Marketing Communications Technology platform to build turnkey internet-connected applications that create a brand relationship directly on the desktop. AdTools has been building desktop communicators, ScreenMate(TM) animated characters, alerts, advergames, and groupware applications since 1997 for Fortune 500 and other major companies in industries such as consumer products, travel and leisure, and entertainment. More information is available at http://www.adtoolsinc.com/.


Source: Roche

CONTACT: Sue Preziotti, +1-212-453-2144; or Megan Driscoll,
+1-212-453-2387, both for Fleishman-Hillard; or Terence Hurley of Roche,
+1-973-562-2882, or terence_j.hurley@roche.com

Web site: http://www.adtoolsinc.com/
http://www.rocheusa.com/
http://www.tamiflu.com/
http://www.tamiflu.com/flutracker


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