The firms Teva, Barr, Mylan and Ranbaxy aim to start production within a month.
Roche said it would sub-license Tamiflu production to any company that can produce it in sufficient quantities, Mr Schumer said. Demand for the drug is by far outstripping supply, even though Roche has doubled production every year for three years.
By next summer, the company will have boosted its output eightfold when compared with 2004.
Companies are also placing orders to protect their workforce.
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