By Duncan Mboyah
Merck a leading German based science and technology company has committed to transfer technology to produce schistosomiasis or bilharzia medicine in Kenya.
The partnership will enable local, large-scale production of Praziquantel, a pediatric formulation designed for children in Africa aged three months to six years.
Schistosomiasis or bilharzia is one of the most devastating neglected tropical diseases that is caused by parasitic worms and spread through contact with contaminated freshwater.
Globally, the disease affects more than 250 million people with Africa carrying the heaviest burden.
Hong Chow, Head of China and International at Merck said that the company has formalized agreements with Universal Corporation Limited, a Kenyan pharmaceutical firm to support its capacity to sustain access of the medicine so that the African region can rely on locally produced treatments.
Chow said that the partnership is geared towards eradicating bilharzia, a neglected tropical disease that remains a major public health challenge globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Chow noted that since signing a partnership agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007, the firm has been manufacturing arpraziquantel in Germany and distributing it in Sub-Saharan Africa free of charge.
She said that Merck has continuously donated arpraziquantel medicine that is used in treating children in the 16 counties of Kenya that have a high burden of the disease.
“We are making this effort to advance African pharmaceutical production, aligning with the regional push for self-dependence in health in the wake of shrinking global health funding,” Chow says during a meeting with officials from Universal Corporation Limited in Nairobi.
She adds that the move is a major step toward regional manufacturing capability and long-term health security.
The official adds that collaboration is more than medicine since involves knowledge transfer, technical expertise, and empowering Kenya as a regional leader in pharmaceutical innovation.
“We at Merck are committed for the long term, combining research and development, sustainable access models and local partnerships so that medicines reach everyone who needs them,” she reveals.
Palu Dhanani, Chief Executive Officer of Universal Corporation Limited says that the pharmaceutical firm that was started in 1996 has previously developed medicine in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), amongst other milestone partnerships.
Dhanani says that his firm had been prequalified by the WHO in 2011 and has helped in producing anti-HIV generics for children that has been given out to 22 countries in Africa.
“We have the capacity to meeting the requirements set out by of Merck. We have medical doctors and pharmacists within our team of 500 employees,” he notes.
Dr. Wickliffe Omondi, Assistant Director of Kenya National Public Health Institute and Head of Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases thanked Merck opting to invest in Kenya, a country he said has 17 out of 21 neglected diseases that are listed by the WHO.
Dr. Omondi says that Merck has continuously donated arpraziquantel medicine that is used in treating children in the 16 counties of Kenya that has high burden of the disease.
Dr. Omondi notes that out of the 17 neglected diseases in Kenya, bilharzia is widely distributed in Kenya with presence in Western, Eastern, Lake Victoria, Coastal regions and hot spots in North Eastern Kenya.
He says that as at 2012 Kenya rolled out a massive campaign towards control and eradicating the disease that is widely transmitted by a parasite that is found in water.
Dr. Omondi notes that in its chronic phase, bilharzia affects people’s productivity since it affects reproductive organs.
He adds that Kenya finished its burden assessment based on WHO categorization last year through granular mapping survey at ward level.
He adds that the survey was conducted in 1,450 wards in health facilities and five primary schools in regions where the diseased is endemic.
Sebastian Groth, German Ambassador to Kenya observes that Germany remains committed to supporting health sector directly and through private sector.
Groth notes that due to the geo-political changes, resources have become scarce globally hence calling for private sector engagement in meeting health challenges.
“This engagement between a German pharmaceutical firm and a Kenyan pharmaceutical firm is going a long way in strengthening Africa’s capacity in medicine production,” he says.
Universal Corporation Limited is preparing to manufacture arpraziquantel at scale following completion of the Merck’s technology transfer.
Once production is established and regulatory procedure completed, Universal Corporation Limited will be positioned to supply across sub-Saharan Africa, helping ensure sustainable, regionally based access from 2028 onwards.
Dr. Karim Bendhaou, Merck’s Head of Africa Bureau says that the partnership shows the firms commitment in working hand in hand with African manufacturers, regulators, and health authorities to build shared capacity.
“We are proud that Kenya is developing the infrastructure, expertise, and regulatory excellence needed to make Africa’s manufacturing future a reality,” Dr. Bendhaou says.
He observes that Kenya is proving that when science, community, and partnership come together, African leadership can set the pace in the fight against neglected tropical diseases.
Dr. Bendhaou notes that Merck is investing in local capacity to ensure that Africa’s progress in healthcare is sustainable and led by Africans themselves.
“We are preparing to manufacture arpraziquantel at scale following completion of the Merck’s technology transfer,’ he adds.
The official reveals that once production is established and regulatory procedure completed, his firm will supply across SSA, helping ensure sustainable, regionally based access from 2028 onwards.
Arpraziquantel is being introduced through implementation research studies through the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium’s ADOPT program, to identify the best ways and platforms to reach preschool-aged children.
This includes integration into community-based mass drug administration campaigns and child health days.
The technology transfer to Universal Corporation Limited builds local expertise, creates skilled jobs, and strengthens Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector.
By producing medicines within the region, access becomes faster and less dependent on donor supply chains which may come from manufacturers based many thousands of miles away.
