London, Dec 12 (ANI): The medical journal BMJ (British Medical Journal) has claimed that anti-viral drugs, such as Tamiflu, may be ineffective against influenza viruses, including the H1N1 swine flu virus, when taken by otherwise healthy people.

The prestigious journal has, in a series of articles, said that the Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Roche, which sells the drug as Tamiflu, has concealed the detailed data required to justify claims of its effectiveness, reports New Scientist.

“Although billions have been spent on oseltamivir in the face of pandemic influenza,” the journal states, investigators “found that the public evidence base for this global public health drug was fragmented and inconsistent”.

The British Medical Journal report follows a World Health Organization (WHO) report a couple of weeks ago which indicated that the H1N1 swine flu virus may now be resistant to Tamiflu. (ANI)