Roche Gets FDA Emergency Approval For Swine Flu Test

Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG said Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted a fast approval for the company's detection set for the A/H1N1 swine flu virus.

The kit detects ribonucleic acid, or RNA, of the swine flu virus and allows rapid and accurate identification of patients infected with this virus, the Basel-based company said in a statement.

The emergency use authorization, which can be used to provide swift countermeasures in case of a national public health emergency, is a small positive for the company, Karl-Heinz Koch, analyst at Swiss independent broker Helvea, said.

'The test should support Roche's diagnostics sales towards the end of the year,' the analyst said. He expects an addition to sales in U.S. dollars in the low double-digit-million range. Koch rates Roche at buy.

However, Roche is competing with others in this market, Koch adds.

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Roche Gets FDA Emergency Approval For Swine Flu Test - WSJ.com