Mectizan Identified as a Possible Treatment for River Blindness
Dr. William Campbell of Merck Research Laboratories suggests the use of Mectizan® (ivermectin) against river blindness (onchocerciasis) in humans, and the drug is reformulated and tested in clinical trials.
Meanwhile, In 1975, The World Health Organization's Onchocerciasis Control Program (OCP) launched in 11 countries in West Africa to control river blindness through larviciding black fly breeding sites. Following *Merck & Co., Inc.'s donation of Mectizan, OCP implemented a joint strategy with vector control and preventive chemotherapy, which resulted in the successful control and elimination as a public health problem many countries in West Africa.
Meanwhile, In 1975, The World Health Organization's Onchocerciasis Control Program (OCP) launched in 11 countries in West Africa to control river blindness through larviciding black fly breeding sites. Following *Merck & Co., Inc.'s donation of Mectizan, OCP implemented a joint strategy with vector control and preventive chemotherapy, which resulted in the successful control and elimination as a public health problem many countries in West Africa.
Testing Proves Mectizan Is a Safe & Effective Treatment
After testing proves safety and efficacy, Merck CEO Roy Vagelos announces the company’s commitment to donate Mectizan to treat river blindness for as long as needed. The Mectizan Donation Program (MDP) and the Mectizan Expert Committee are formed, and a secretariat is established at The Task Force for Global Health as an independent body to provide medical, technical, and administrative oversight of Mectizan donation.
Non-Governmental Development Organization Established
Merck, MDP, the World Health Organization (WHO), and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners established the Non-Governmental Development Organization (NGDO) Coordination Group for Onchocerciasis Control. NGDOs play a critical role in getting Mectizan distributed through their work with ministries of health, their expertise in grassroots programs management, and their fundraising for program implementation.
PAHO Calls for Elimination of River Blindness
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) passes a resolution calling for the elimination of river blindness as a public health problem in the Americas by the year 2007.
OEPA is Launched
The Onchocerciasis Elimination Program for the Americas (OEPA), formed by the River Blindness Foundation and sponsored by The Carter Center, is launched to coordinate elimination in the 6 endemic countries in the Americas: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela.
WHA Passes Ivermectin Distribution Resolution
The World Health Assembly (WHA) passes the resolution WHA47.32 calling for river blindness control through ivermectin distribution.
APOC Is Created
WHO and the World Bank partner to create the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), providing financial support and coordination of disease control efforts in 20 African countries.
10 Years of Mectizan
MDP celebrates 10 years of Mectizan for river blindness control in Bamako, Mali.
Expansion of MDP to include elimination of LF
Merck expands the mandate of MDP to include Mectizan for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in African countries and Yemen where the disease is co-endemic with river blindness. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) donates albendazole for co-distribution with Mectizan for LF elimination in Africa and Yemen where river blindness is co-endemic. This begins a partnership between Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, and MDP to coordinate the donations of Mectizan and albendazole.
250 Million Treatments
Merck and MDP celebrate the 250 millionth treatment of Mectizan in Bombani, Tanzania.
$25 Million for APOC
Merck commits $25 million to support APOC for the control of river blindness in 20 countries in Africa.
Post-Treatment Phase Begins in Colombia
Colombia stops treatment for river blindness and becomes the first country to begin the 3-year post-treatment surveillance phase.
Resolution for Americas Transmission Interruption
PAHO passes an updated resolution CD48.R12 calling for the interruption of transmission of river blindness in the Americas by 2012.
Ten Years of Mectizan and Albendazole
MDP holds a symposium in London to commemorate the 10 years of Mectizan and albendazole donation for LF elimination.
Last Round of Treatment for LF
Togo conducts its last round of mass treatment for LF.
Potential Elimination in Parts of Africa
WHO confirms the potential for elimination of the transmission of river blindness with ivermectin in some parts of Africa.
Ecuador Begins Post-Treatment Phase
Ecuador stops treatment with Mectizan for river blindness and begins the post-treatment surveillance phase.
Sudan Begins Post-Treatment Phase
The Abu Hamad focus in Sudan stops Mectizan treatment and begins the post-treatment surveillance phase.
Colombia Submits Dossier
Colombia becomes the first country to submit a dossier to WHO for verification of elimination of river blindness transmission.
Over 1 Billion Treatments Approved
More than 1 billion treatments have been approved cumulatively by MDP for the treatment of river blindness.
Yemen Conducts Final Round
Yemen conducts its final round of mass treatment for LF.
140 Million Annual Treatments Approved
By the end of 2011, 140 million treatments annually are being approved for river blindness and 130 million for LF.
25 Years of Partnerships Celebrated
The Mectizan Donation Program celebrates 25 years of partnerships and progress toward the elimination of river blindness and LF with events held in the USA (Atlanta), the UK (London), and Switzerland (Geneva).
Suspected Transmission Interruption in Uganda
6 foci (Mt. Elgon, Itwara, Wadelai, Mpamba-Nkusi, Maracha-Terego, and Imaramagambo) in Uganda stop Mectizan treatment after transmission of river blindness is suspected to have been interrupted.
Colombia Eliminates River Blindness
Colombia becomes the first country in the world to be verified by WHO for eliminating river blindness.
Ecuador Eliminates River Blindness
Ecuador becomes the second country in the world to be verified by WHO for eliminating river blindness.
Final Round of Treatment in Malawi
Malawi conducts its final round of mass treatment for LF.
Mexico Eliminates River Blindness
Mexico becomes the third country in the world to be verified by WHO for eliminating river blindness.
Dr. William C. Campbell awarded Nobel Prize
William C. Campbell, Ph.D., is jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of avermectin, which led to the development of Mectizan. Dr. Campbell performed his Nobel Prize-winning work at Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, N.J., where he worked from 1957 until his retirement in 1990.
APOC Ends 20-Year Run
APOC ends its 20-year run as WHO's regional coordinating body for river blindness control in Africa.
Guatemala Eliminates River Blindness
Guatemala becomes the fourth country to be verified by WHO for eliminating river blindness.
ESPEN is Established
The Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), is established within the WHO African Regional Office (AFRO) with an expanded mandate to coordinate the elimination of river blindness, LF, and trachoma as well as the control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the African region.
Togo Eliminates LF
Togo becomes the first country in sub-Saharan Africa validated by WHO for eliminating LF as a public health problem.
Plateau & Nasarawa States Eliminate LF
The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health declares that Plateau and Nasarawa States achieved LF elimination as a public health problem.
Merck & Co., Inc. Expands MDP Mandate
Merck expands the mandate of MDP to donate up to an additional 100 million treatments annually through 2025 to accelerate LF elimination in countries eligible for "triple therapy" with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole (known as "IDA").
Ethiopia Districts Stop Mectizan Treatment
6 districts in Ethiopia’s Metema focus stop Mectizan treatment for river blindness.
Uganda Foci Interrupt River Blindness Transmission
2 additional foci (Kashoya-Kitomi and Wambabya-Rwamarongo) in Uganda stop Mectizan treatment after transmission of river blindness is interrupted.
Mectizan Donation Program Turns 30
MDP commemorates its 30th anniversary and recognizes Togo as the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate LF by hosting a side event during the 67th WHO AFRO Regional Committee meeting in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Three States in Nigeria Stop River Blindness Treatment
3 states in Nigeria stop treatment for river blindness - Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Plateau.
Triple Therapy Strategy Rolled Out
The new strategy to eliminate LF using the IDA “triple therapy” strategy is rolled out in American Samoa, Egypt, Fiji, India, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tuvalu.
Mali Conducts Final Mass LF Treatment
Mali conducts its final round of mass treatment for LF.
Yemen Eliminates LF
Yemen is validated by WHO for eliminating LF as a public health problem.
Two Additional Nigerian States Stop Treatment
2 additional states stop treatment in Nigeria—Zamfara and Kebbi. This brings the global number of people no longer needing treatment for river blindness to 13.8 million.
Cameroon & Uganda Conduct Final Round LF Treatment
Cameroon and Uganda conduct their final rounds of mass treatment for LF.
Malawi Completes Post-Treatment Surveillance for LF
Malawi has completed the required 5-year post-treatment surveillance period for LF and submitted the validation dossier to WHO.
Malawi Eliminates LF
Malawi is validated by WHO for eliminating LF as a public health problem.
Uganda eliminates river blindness in 2 more foci
The Wadelai and Nyamugasani foci meet WHO criteria for elimination, reducing the number of people who need treatment with Mectizan in Uganda by 38,450.
Nigeria stops treatment for river blindness in 4 new states
After 27 years of mass administration of Mectizan, four additional states of Nigeria (Abia, Anambra, Enugu, and Imo) interrupted transmission of river blindness, and will therefore stop treatment for 18.9 million people. This is the largest stop-treatment decision in the history of the global river blindness campaign.
*Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., U.S.A., is known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada.