The Truth About Tamiflu

Has the U.S. wasted $1.5 billion on an ineffective drug?

By Shannon Brownlee and Jeanne Lenzer
December 10, 2009

Two months ago, we pointed out in our story on flu in The Atlantic that the antiviral drug Tamiflu might not be as effective or safe as many patients, doctors, and governments think. The drug has been widely prescribed since the first cases of H1N1 flu surfaced last spring, and the U.S. government has spent more than $1.5 billion stockpiling it since 2005 as part of the nation’s pandemic preparedness plan.