Africa: First African-Manufactured Mixture Remedy For Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention Receives WHO Prequalification

Geneva and Kiambu —

• Common Company Ltd (UCL), a Strides Pharma Science Restricted (Strides) enterprise, with assist from MMV, turns into the primary African producer to realize WHO prequalification for his or her sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine + amodiaquine product.
• Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine + amodiaquine (SPAQ) is a mixture drug used to stop malaria in kids dwelling in areas of seasonal malaria transmission.
• The mix remedy is employed in seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) programmes and is designed to guard kids by clearing current infections and stopping new malaria infections in the course of the season of biggest threat.
• An African producer of WHO-prequalified SPAQ can enhance SMC programmes, enhance entry to high quality medicines, assist malaria prevention, scale back morbidity and mortality, strengthen world provide chains, and promote native financial growth.

UCL, a number one Kenya-based pharmaceutical producer, supported by Medicines for Malaria Enterprise (MMV), has acquired prequalification from the World Well being Group (WHO) for its product, SPAQ. This historic achievement makes UCL the primary Africa-based producer to realize WHO prequalification for this life-saving malaria remedy.

Prequalification is a WHO programme established to use requirements of high quality, security and efficacy of medicinal merchandise. This recognition demonstrates UCL’s dedication to sustaining the best high quality requirements within the manufacturing of antimalarial medication. Moreover, the accomplishment is a welcome step, boosting regional manufacturing capabilities and offering higher entry to important medicines inside the African continent, the place about 95% of all malaria circumstances and 96% of deaths from malaria happen.

“Common Company Ltd is dedicated to advancing the struggle towards malaria and enhancing the well being and well-being of communities throughout Africa. The WHO prequalification of our SPAQ manufacturing is a major step ahead in reaching these targets”, stated Perviz Dhanani, Founder and Managing Director of UCL.

SPAQ is a crucial element within the struggle towards malaria, significantly via SMC programmes. Well timed supply of SPAQ is crucial, contemplating its administration should sync with the seasonal interval of peak malaria transmission (sometimes 4-5 months) and entails the distribution of hundreds of thousands of doses to a number of African nations. The logistical complexity of SMC supply campaigns is amplified by the massive variety of kids requiring this preventive drugs.

“Native manufacturing performs a pivotal position in enhancing public well being in Africa, and the WHO prequalification of Common Company Ltd’s SPAQ manufacturing is a notable accomplishment. This milestone not solely demonstrates the continent’s resolve to strengthen the self-sufficiency of its public well being techniques but additionally boosts confidence in domestically manufactured merchandise aligning with the African Union Agenda 2063 ambitions,” stated Dr Jean Kaseya, Director Basic of the Africa Centres for Illness Management and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Current research additionally present that providing SPAQ together with RTS,S or R21, the 2 malaria vaccines beneficial by WHO, will increase safety amongst kids underneath 5 in comparison with both intervention alone.

UCL’s new standing as a producer of prequalified SPAQ has the potential to make sure that extra kids will probably be protected in the course of the wet season. Till not too long ago, WHO beneficial SMC just for kids from 3 months to five years previous. Nevertheless, in June 2022, WHO up to date its steering to suggest this intervention for any little one at excessive threat of extreme malaria in areas of seasonal malaria transmission. This growth resulted in additional than 48 million kids being shielded from malaria, considerably lowering the burden of this lethal illness.

David Reddy, CEO of Medicines for Malaria Enterprise, expressed his enthusiasm for this milestone stating, “The WHO prequalification of UCL’s SPAQ is a major achievement in our efforts to fight malaria in Africa. By increasing the supply of high-quality, domestically manufactured anti-malarial medication, we will strengthen SMC programmes and be certain that any little one at excessive threat of malaria in areas of seasonal transmission is protected against the devastating influence of this illness. This achievement is a testomony to the dedication and experience of UCL and the continuing collaboration between MMV and African producers.”

The prequalification of UCL’s SPAQ may contribute to the growth of SMC programmes throughout Africa. With elevated entry to WHO-prequalified medication, extra kids will obtain the mandatory safety towards malaria in the course of the excessive transmission season, resulting in a major discount in malaria-related sicknesses and deaths.