Roche Shares Tick Higher After FDA Approves Influenza Drug in Children 5 and Over

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Investing.com — Roche Holding AG (SIX:RO) stock rose on Friday after the Swiss drugmaker announced it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its drug to treat influenza in children.

The treatment, marketed under the name Xofluza, is designed for otherwise healthy children aged five to less than 12 years of age who have had symptoms of acute uncomplicated influenza for less than two days. It is the first single-dose oral influenza medicine given the green light by U.S. authorities in this age group.

The FDA also signed off on the use of Xofluza for the prevention of influenza in children in this age range who have come into contact with someone with the disease.

Xofluza is already approved by the FDA for people 12 years of age and older.

As of 08:09 EST (12:09 GMT), shares in Roche were trading higher by 0.31%, pulling back slightly from earlier gains.