Merck Sharp & Dohme have signed an agreement with DHL to enhance the delivery of MSD’s medicine MECTIZAN to patients affected by the diseases river blindness (onchocerciasis) and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) to Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Under the agreement, DHL will offer at-cost shipping of the medicine from MSD’s facility in France to endemic countries through DHL’s reliable air express services. This new agreement builds upon the existing relationship between MSD and DHL and combines the core capabilities of each to ensure rapid and flexible delivery of drugs to ease the suffering of those in the developing world.
MECTIZAN is an anti-parasitic drug discovered, developed and manufactured by MSD. In 1987, Merck established the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP) and began a long-term commitment to donating the medicine to treat river blindness worldwide, until the disease is no longer a public health problem. An estimated 120 million in 35 developing countries throughout the third world are at risk of contracting river blindness, a disease contracted by through bites from blackflies carrying a microscopic worn that moves through the body causing severe itching, skin disfigurement and eventually leading to lesions around the eye which can cause permanent blindness.
In 1998, MSD expanded the program to include the prevention of another parasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis, in Africa and Yemen, where the two diseases co-exist. Lymphatic filariasis affects more than 1 billion people throughout the developing world, with Africa making up one third of this statistic.
“MSD’s mission of putting patient’s first means it isn’t enough to simply discover and develop medicines and vaccines. We also have the responsibility to pursue effective partnerships that can aid in the delivery of vital medicines to people throughout the developing world”, comments by Michel Iguer, Regional Director and Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa for MSD.
Since 1987, MSD has donated more than 400 million doses of MECTIZAN for river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, and currently reaches over 45 million people for river blindness and some 25 million people for lymphatic filariasis.
DHL has a high level of competency for the movement of drugs and medicines around the world through its dedicated Life Sciences logistics business unit and is pleased support MSD’s work with the MECTIZAN Program.
“Our mission to provide customized solutions to the life science industry is further enhanced when we have an opportunity to contribute to this type of humanitarian program,” stated Robert Krautheim, Global Head of DHL Life Services.
“Efficient and robust delivery systems are a key building block for medical access programs in the developing world. This partnership represents an important element of this process”, continued Mr. Krautheim.
