Roche unfazed as Tamiflu stockpiling tails off-FT

ZURICH, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche (ROG.VX) is not concerned that sales of its antiviral drug Tamiflu may fall as governments complete stockpiling of the medicine, Roche's CEO Franz Humer was quoted as saying on Friday.

"We had all this anticipated. That was a very welcome phase where governments were stockpiling Tamiflu in order to cope with a pandemic, should it arise," Humer told the Financial Times in an interview.

"And I think it was very wise of governments to do that. That period is gradually coming to an end and we will continue to promote Tamiflu for the normal seasonal flu," Humer told the newspaper.

Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, was the first drug to show real efficacy in helping people with the H5N1 avian flu virus and is now given to anyone diagnosed with the illness.