We applaud Medicines Development for Global Health (MDGH) for its work to finalize the research on moxidectin and gain FDA approval. According to public health experts, moxidectin may be used to accelerate the elimination of onchocerciasis in special settings such as hard-to-reach communities. (Turner C et al, Parasit Vectors. 2015. 19;8:167).
The Mectizan Donation Program (MDP) has been working to control and eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness) since 1987, and we welcome the development of new medicines that can alleviate suffering caused by this disease. The MDP currently reaches approximately 130 million people per year for onchocerciasis elimination programs in Latin America, Africa and Yemen (WHO, WER. 2017, 45:92, 681–700).
While the MDP does not oversee the use of moxidectin, the MDP will collaborate with Medicines Development for Global Health and through stakeholders such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure that any future deployment of moxidectin is well coordinated and aligned with national programs and global targets for river blindness elimination.