Mectizan & Albendazole for LF

Mectizan & Albendazole for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination

In 1998 Mectizan™ was approved for treatment of proven or suspected microfilaremia caused by W. bancrofti. WHO currently recommends that when lymphatic filariasis co-exists with onchocerciasis, treatment should be on an annual basis with Mectizan in combination with albendazole (donated by GlaxoSmithKline).

A single annual dose of Mectizan alone has been found to effectively decrease the number of W. bancrofti microfilariae in the blood by 90% for one full year.

A single annual dose of Mectizan, co-administered with albendazole, has been found to effectively reduce microfilaremia by 99% for one full year.  Researchers believe that such reductions in microfilaremia over time may interrupt transmission of the parasite and possibly eliminate the disease.

LF has been reported from 80 countries/territories in Africa, Asia, the Western Pacific, and parts of the Americas. It is hoped that epidemiologic mapping of the extent and distribution of disease in all 80 countries will be completed by 2005.

In Africa, 40 countries are believed to be endemic. The extent of overlap between LF and onchocerciasis within these African countries is currently unknown. It is expected that a total of 28 African countries and Yemen, in which onchocerciasis and LF are co-endemic, will ultimately establish national programmes to eliminate LF based on co-administration of Mectizan and albendazole.