( Toronto-based Gro-Bark a forestry rec...)Christmas trees to yield key Tamiflu ingredient,Health

Toronto-based Gro-Bark, a forestry recycling company.

Most shikimic acid is now extracted from star anise, the fruit of a slow-growing evergreen in China, which is harvested for several months each year. That's why Roche's production of Tamiflu takes about 12 months and there isn't nearly enough of the drug to go around for government stockpiling.

Biolyse hopes its process will be more viable as the particular species of pine, spruce and fir that it is working with are far more abundant than the seedlings of star anise.

Biolyse has no plans to make Tamiflu unless Ottawa grants compulsory licences under the Patent Act in a national emergency. In such a case, he said the company could produce the drug in five weeks.

In countries where Roche's patents on Tamiflu are not recognized, such as the Philippines and Thailand, Biolyse is in discussions to sell shikimic acid and provide technical assistance to manufacture the drug for use in that country.


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