…It is expected that DREPAF would cut reliance on expensive imports
At a time when the Global South relies heavily on medical tourism and purchasing medications from abroad, Senegal has developed Africa’s first locally made sickle cell drug, DREPAF, to reduce dependence on costly imports.
In a statement regarding the mission and impact of this drug, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and pharmacist of Teranga Pharma, Mouhamadou Sow emphasized that the company provides access to the active ingredient for Africans and aims to shape the pharmaceutical future of Senegal and sub-Saharan Africa.
“Our approach is based not only on financial considerations but also on public health. Because if Africa is to develop, if Africa is to enjoy good health, the medicines that Africans take must be produced in Africa,” he noted.
He noted that their approach prioritizes public health alongside financial factors, asserting that African development requires local medicine production. For the full extended statement, please refer to the referenced web documents.
Credit: Medical Xpress.
Facts About DREPAF
Commercialized under the name Drepaf, the drug is said to be a locally manufactured generic version of hydroxyurea—the World Health Organization (WHO) gold standard for treating sickle cell disease.
Advocated Africa gathered that while Drepaf is manufactured in Mbao near Dakar, Senegal, it has already expanded supply to Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Ivory Coast and is sold at a rate up to three times cheaper than traditional European or American imports.
CEO Sow suggested that Teranga Pharma’s goal for in developing the Hydroxyurea-based treatment is to ensure that medicines are produced in Africa for Africans.
“Africans do not have access to the active ingredient. So the first key point is that Teranga Pharma has enabled Senegalese and Africans to gain access to this molecule,” he maintained.
While the over $1 billion project is already drawing interest from Burkina Faso, Guinea, DRC, Gabon and Cameroon, it is hoped that this milestone regarding Africa’s first locally produced sickle cell drug would be spearheaded and receive a boast by the Senegalese government.
Editor’s Note: Featured photo is courtesy of X/cgtnafrica/africanholder.
