The antimalarial drug, manufactured in Kenya and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), is intended primarily for pregnant women and infants.
The African pharmaceutical industry has just taken an “important step” in its quest for global recognition.
Kenya’s Universal Corporation Ltd (UCL) is the first African manufacturer to receive “quality certification” from the World Health Organization (WHO) for its drug that can prevent malaria in pregnant women and children.
The drug is sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), which “is a well-tolerated, effective and affordable treatment used to prevent malaria in pregnant women and infants.”
Malaria is a devastating disease blighting Africa, with many deaths recorded each year.
Young children and pregnant women are among the most vulnerable, with 80 percent of malaria deaths on the continent occurring in children under five.
In addition, the continent relied entirely on imported drugs to cure malaria patients.
With its new certification, Universal Corporation Ltd (UCL) “will be able to support the local production of a quality treatment based on the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) combination, thus supporting regional efforts in the fight against malaria,” says a statement seen by APA.
“UNITAID welcomes the certification obtained by UCL for the production of this quality antimalarial drug in Africa, where about 95 percent of all malaria cases and deaths occur worldwide. Strengthening local drug production where the need is greatest is essential to building more robust and resilient health responses,” said Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of the global health agency UNITAID, which funded UCL’s pre-qualification.
For its part, “UCL is committed to providing the quality medicines that people on the African continent need most. We are not only the first pharmaceutical company to receive prequalification for the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combination in Africa, but also one of only five manufacturers on the continent to have received this quality certification for a product. This fills an important gap,” Managing Director Perviz Dhanani said.
ODL/cgd/fss/as/APA