Nigerian Pharmaceutical giant, Emzor has signed an agreement with an Indian company, Mangalam Drugs & Organics Limited, to produce in Nigeria and distribute active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to treat and prevent malaria.
The pact includes an API technology transfer and licensing agreement, which establishes a co-development basis for manufacturing four APIs for the treatment of malaria, which continues to be a leading cause of death on the African continent.
A statement by the firm said this will lead to the development of a world-class API manufacturing facility in full compliance with international standards and the first of its kind in the sub-Saharan African region.
It said: “The agreement reaffirms Emzor’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the pharma sector in Africa. The signed technology transfer and licensing agreement with Mangalam, a leading Indian chemical manufacturing company, will provide in-house developed technology for manufacturing antimalarial Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), “the statement reads.
It explained that Mangalam would provide consultation and relevant designs for setting up a world-class API manufacturing facility compliant with WHO standards as part of the agreement.
It added that the initial focus would be on the development of 4 APIs: artemether, lumefantrine, sulfadoxine, and pyrimethamine.
The selected APIs provide chemo-preventive combination therapies for malaria in pregnant women and treatment for adults and children.
According to the 2020 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number of global malaria cases (27 per cent of global malaria cases) in 2019 and accounted for the highest number of deaths (23 per cent of global malaria deaths).
Additionally, this agreement with Mangalam is an apt response to the complete dependency on external firms for APIs to sustain the regional pharmaceutical industry.
It said: “Emzor is a pioneer in the Nigerian malaria space and was the first Nigerian indigenous pharmaceutical company to develop and manufacture artemether/lumefantrine, under the brand name Lokmal, launched in 2009. Maldox is Emzor’s brand name for its sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine combination antimalarial.”it stated.
Emzor is a privately owned indigenous pharmaceutical company founded in 1984 by Dr Stella Okoli. The Company has grown into a legacy pharmaceutical company with 4 modern factories that manufacture over 140 world-class pharmaceutical products, such as analgesics (the widely used Emzor Paracetamol), vitamins, haematinics, anti-malarial, anti-tussive, antibiotics, antihelminthic, anti-histamine, antacid, and cardio-protective drugs. It has a network of over 120 distributors covering public and private institutions across West Africa.
On the other hand, Mangalam commenced its manufacturing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Intermediates at VAPI – Gujarat in 1977. It has a multi-product manufacturing facility on two locations, and an in-house Research & Development laboratory recognized by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Delhi Govt. of India (DSIR). Over the last three decades, Mangalam has acquired worldwide reputation as a single stop destination for frontline Antimalaria APIs including Pyrimethamine, Sulfadoxine, Artemether, and Lumefantrine. It is a WHOGENEVA GMP Certificated facility and EDQM approved for its API manufacturing plant. It also has an agreement in place with the prestigious Clinton Health Access Initiatives (CHAI) under its Fight Malaria Program for supply of anti-malaria APIs worldwide.
