Roche Holding AG’s antiviral drug Tamiflu may not prevent complications from influenza in healthy adults, according to a review by an independent research group that reversed its previous findings that the medicine warded off pneumonia and other deadly conditions linked to the disease. The pill has been the mainstay of treatment for pandemic swine flu, which has killed nearly 9,000 people since it emerged in April, according to the World Health Organization.

Daiichi Sankyo Co’s new influenza drug CS-8958 has been successful in the late stage clinical studies. The company is planning to filing for government approval in Japan by March. The new drug has demonstrated better efficacy and safety in its phase-3 studies as compared with Roche’s Tamiflu, one of the most widely prescribed influenza drugs. CS-8958 also produced better results than Tamiflu in pediatric studies without any serious safety problems, Daiichi Sankyo said. Daiichi Sankyo expects CS-8958 to be also effective for treating swine flu.