New malaria drug ready for launch
pharmafile | July 5, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â ACT, Sigma Tau, Sigma-Tau, malariaÂ
Eurartesim, the first artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) approved in Europe to treat uncomplicated malaria, is being prepared for launch in several countries.
Eurartesim, (dihydroartemisinin piperaquine: DHA-PQP), was co-developed by Italian pharma company Sigma Tau and the not-for-profit research foundation Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).
The drug is now ready for delivery to Cambodia, the first malaria endemic country to place an order for this newly approved treatment. Cambodia prioritised the use of DHA-PQP as a first line drug and was awaiting EMA approval to allow procurement of this product using international donor funds.
The World Health Organisation’s standard treatment guidelines recommend DHA-PQP as a highly effective ACT in curing uncomplicated malaria. In early June, Sigma Tau submitted Eurartesim for pre-qualification by the World Health Organisation, a process highly regarded by donors, and malaria-endemic countries, as an important measure of quality and efficacy of new drugs. Sigma Tau is also about to submit the drug for registration in key African countries, such as Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ghana and others.
Professor Trevor Jones of the Sigma-Tau Group Board of Directors commented: “Eurartesim represents a major innovation in the fight against the malaria. We are proud to announce that we continue to work towards achieving registration and distribution of the drug in malaria-endemic countries where thousands of people die each year from this disease. We are also ensuring its availability in Europe.”
The priority areas remain malaria-endemic countries, but Sigma Tau is also planning to roll-out Eurartesim across Europe, for use both by travellers to malaria-endemic countries and for imported cases of malaria in the case of returning travellers. Eurartesim is already available in pharmacies in France, UK, Germany, Belgium and Portugal, where the number of cases have been the highest in Europe.
Eurartesim was selected as the Medicines for Malaria Venture Project of the Year 2011, in recognition of its important contribution to the universe of quality-assured efficacious medicines for curing malaria.
Sigma-Tau is a leading Italian pharma company founded in 1957. The firm has its headquarters in Pomezia (Rome, Italy). It employs around 2,400 employees and an extensive network of subsidiaries and licensees worldwide, with a group global turnover of €663 million in 2011.
Andrew McConaghie
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