It’s been a busy year at the Mectizan Donation Program as we’ve traveled the world celebrating five billion Mectizan treatments donated since 1987. We have been especially grateful for opportunities to meet with our many partners including national neglected tropical disease (NTD) programs, WHO, NGOs, donors, and others as we work together to eliminate river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. See below for news of our work so far this year.
The Mectizan Donation Program and Merck Launch 5 Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated…and Counting on World NTD Day
On World NTD Day in January, MDP and Merck* co-hosted an event marking an extraordinary milestone: 5 Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated…and Counting. The event, held in Haarlem, The Netherlands at the MSD Mectizan manufacturing facility, launched a year-long campaign to recognize the donation of Mectizan and its remarkable impact toward eliminating river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.
The event was intentionally held on World NTD Day. The donation of Mectizan catalyzed pharmaceutical donations for NTDs. There are now 20 drug donations available for 15 NTDs. MDP and Merck were also delighted that the event coincided with Niger’s announcement that the country was verified by WHO for eliminating transmission of river blindness—the first country in Africa to achieve this incredible goal.
In 1987, Merck announced the donation of Mectizan® (ivermectin) “as much as needed and as long as needed” for the treatment of onchocerciasis (river blindness) worldwide. Today, transmission of river blindness is being eliminated worldwide.
The donation was expanded in 1998 to be co-administered with GSK’s donation of albendazole for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in African countries and Yemen where the two diseases are co-endemic. In 2017 following the adoption of WHO’s recommendation for triple therapy (ivermectin + diethylcarbamazine + albendazole, known as IDA), Merck decided to donate up to 100 million Mectizan treatments annually through 2025 to accelerate the elimination of LF in countries where onchocerciasis in not endemic across the globe.
The impact has been dramatic. To date, the donation of Mectizan contributed to the elimination of transmission of onchocerciasis in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Niger. Severe skin itching, visual impairment, and blindness are a thing of the past. Lymphatic filariasis has been eliminated with Mectizan and albendazole as a public health problem in Malawi, Togo, and Yemen. LF was also eliminated in Timor-Leste thanks to the donations of Mectizan, albendazole, and DEC for the implementation of IDA.
More than 340 million people no longer need treatment in subnational regions of several African countries where disease transmission is suspected to be eliminated.
Niger becomes the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate the transmission of river blindness
On January 30, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Niger has been verified for eliminating the transmission of onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness.
MDP extends its congratulations to Niger for reaching this significant milestone.. Millions of people will no longer suffer from the debilitating visual impairment and severe itching caused by river blindness.
Niger is now the first country in Africa to eliminate transmission of the disease, an incredible accomplishment that was reached through vector control and annual mass distribution of Mectizan with sustained high treatment coverage.
“We are thrilled to learn that Niger has eliminated the transmission of river blindness,” said Dr. Allison Goldberg, president of the Merck Foundation. “We celebrate this important accomplishment with the government and people of Niger, WHO, and the non-governmental organizations and donor community that helped make it possible. Merck is proud to deliver on our commitment to provide as much Mectizan as needed, for as long as needed. In doing so, we are improving the lives of individuals, families, communities, and health systems around the world.”
Dr. Yao Sodahlon, director of the Mectizan Donation Program, stated, “Niger has proven that what was once thought impossible is possible. Mectizan was donated to control river blindness 37 years ago. Today, we know that elimination of transmission is possible, which will permanently end the suffering caused by the disease in Africa. We applaud the commitment of the government of Niger and the supporting partners, as well as the community health workers whose dedication ensured that Mectizan reached the people who needed it.”
The Mectizan Donation Program and the Government of Togo Celebrate Five Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated…and Counting
On April 2, 2025, MDP and Togo’s Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene co-hosted a large celebration in the community of Kouvé Gboli, culminating in the administration of the five billionth treatment by Merck’s Ms. Marilyn Mainardi to community member Mrs. Amavi Amouzou.
Togo was selected for this celebration as it was the first country in Africa to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem with donated Mectizan co-administered with GSK’s donation of albendazole. Togo was validated by WHO for eliminating LF in 2017, serving as proof that elimination in Africa is possible. Malawi and Yemen have also eliminated LF with Mectizan and albendazole.
During the event, the critical role played by community drug distributors (CDDs) was highlighted. Without their determination and commitment, elimination would not be possible. The CDDS and the community performed skits demonstrating the challenges of distribution and the impact mass drug administration (MDA) has on relieving the suffering caused by both diseases.
Togo also successfully eliminated trachoma and African sleeping sickness and eradicated Guinea worm. Togo has truly led the way toward a future free of these debilitating neglected tropical diseases.
MDP is very grateful for the support of Togo’s NTD Program Manager, Dr. Piham Gnossike, who worked with the communities to organize this highly successful and well-attended event.
MDP Co-hosts WHO World Health Assembly Side Event to Spotlight Five Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated…and Counting
On May 20th, MDP and Merck co-hosted a side event in Geneva, Switzerland, during the World Health Assembly to bring stakeholders together including ministers of health, WHO (headquarters and regional offices), NGOs, donors, Merck, and the Mectizan Donation Program’s Mectizan Expert Committee to reflect on progress toward elimination, challenges, and our commitment to continue working together to ending these two debilitating diseases.
The event was emceed by a member of the Mectizan Expert Committee, Prof. B.E.B. Nwoke. The program opened with remarks by MDP director, Dr. Yao Sodahlon, and Dr. Allison Goldberg, President, Merck Foundation. WHO’s NTD director, Dr. Socé Fall, made remarks on behalf of WHO HQ.
A panel discussion was moderated by the chair of the Mectizan Expert Committee, Dr. Gilbert Burnham. Dr. Gilbert Burnham moderated a panel discussion with Honorable Minister of Health, Niger, Médecin Colonel-Major Garba Hakimi, and Honorable Minister of Health, Tanzania, Dr. Jenista Joakim Mhagama. PAHO’s regional director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, made remarks on progress made toward river blindness elimination in the Americas; WHO AFRO was represented by Dr. Joseph Cabore. The donor community was represented by Ms. Arielle Dolegui, Strategy Lead, NTDs, Global Policy & Advocacy for Gates Foundation, and Dr. Solomon Zewdu, CEO of The END Fund. The NGO community was represented by The Carter Center’s CEO, Ms. Paige Alexander.
Announcing a new film series: Five Billion Mectizan Treatments…and Counting
This year we mark a tremendous milestone in the history of global health: 5 billion Mectizan treatments donated to end river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. You are invited to a video journey as we explore how we got here, the people who made it possible, successes along the way, and plans for future as we work together to #StampOutOncho and #EliminateLF! We’ll deliver each short video right here to your email in-box—or keep an eye on our YouTube channel.
*Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA, is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada.