(An excerpt from the Mectizan Donation Program Annual Highlights for 2024)
The Mectizan Expert Committee/Albendazole Coordination (MEC/AC) is the independent technical body of experts providing oversight for the donation of Mectizan and, for LF elimination, coordination of the co-distribution of Mectizan and albendazole (donated by GSK). The MEC/AC meets twice yearly for progress updates from MDP and WHO regional offices, with additional reports on emerging topics by invited speakers and partners.
The 71st meeting of the MEC/AC was held April 8-9, 2024, in person and virtually in Paris, France. The MEC discussed the WHO-HQ request to extend the Mectizan donation for IDA beyond 2025, a review of the Regional Program Review Groups processes and implications on drug supply, and an update from the Reaching the Last Mile Fund on their plans for supporting elimination of river blindness and LF in Africa and Yemen.
Given recent progress in the development of the Test and Not Treat (TaNT) strategy to prevent severe adverse reactions in MDA in Loa loa co-endemic communities, the MEC/AC agreed that the Mectizan Donation Program should support a meeting to review available data on TaNT and develop practical guidance for field deployment.
The 72nd MEC/AC was convened virtually on October 17-18, 2024. The recommendations of the August TaNT meeting held in Paris were shared, and a proposal from Cameroon requesting Mectizan for areas co-endemic with Loa loa was approved.