26 October 2006
Multi-national pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has donated to the South African Department of Health 3 000 vials of an antibiotic drug, capreomycin sulphate, initially developed for management of tuberculosis (TB).
The product is being reintroduced to benefit the patients currently diagnosed with XDR-TB in the country. Lilly has also made provision to supply an additional 6 500 vials should the need arise in the country.
"Lilly is a willing partner of the South African government with this pressing health issue and can assist with both training as well as pharmaceutical interventions," said Managing Director of Lilly South Africa, Mr Jim Ringer.
Capreomycin is not a new invention and has been used for treatment of TB before being replaced by the current first line of TB drugs with better treatment outcomes. Capreomycin is being reintroduced because of XDR TB is resistant to the current first and second line of drugs.
"We appreciate the contribution made by Eli Lilly in our TB control efforts. We need to work together with pharmaceutical manufacturers to find new and innovative tools to address the challenge TB present in South Africa," said the Director General of the Department of Health, Thami Mseleku.
In 2004, Lilly formalised a partnership with Aspen Pharmacare to transfer its technology for the manufacture of two antibiotics - capreomycin and cycloserine - used in the treatment of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).
Aspen is currently constructing a parenteral manufacturing facility in Port Elizabeth to manufacture the injectable TB product - capreomycin sulphate.
Aspen has applied for local registration and the Medicines Control Council (MCC) is fast-tracking this application to ensure availability of the medicine once the donated product is consumed.
In addition, Lilly has made a commitment to partner with the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (DENOSA), as well as other members of the Global Stop TB Partnership, to help provide appropriate training to health care professionals involved in treating XDR-TB patients countrywide.
Contact:
Isaac (Eli Lilly) (011) 510 9308
Sibani (Health Dept) (012) 312 0763
Charity (Health Dept) (012) 312 0420
Mandisa (MCC) 082 774 8966
For more information about the Lilly MDR TB partnership, visit www.lillyMDR-TB.com
About Lilly:
Eli Lilly and Company, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organisations.
About Aspen:
Aspen Pharmacare is a major supplier of branded pharmaceutical and healthcare products to the local and selected international markets with offices in South Africa, UK and Australia. Website: www.aspenpharma.com