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About MDP

History, Background, and Structure

The Mectizan Donation Program (MDP) was established in 1988 to provide medical, technical and administrative oversight of the donation of Mectizan by Merck & Co., Inc. for the treatment of onchocerciasis. In 1998, its mandate was broadened to include the donation of Mectizan for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in areas that are co-endemic for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Mectizan is co-administered with albendazole, which is donated by GlaxoSmithKline, in these settings.

MDP serves as the secretariat for both the Mectizan Expert Committee (MEC) and the Mectizan Expert Committee/Albendazole Coordination (MEC/AC). The mandate of these committees is to assure that:

· Mectizan is available for the treatment and prevention of blindness and skin disease caused by onchocerciasis worldwide;

· Combination therapy of Mectizan and albendazole is available for the interruption of transmission of LF in countries where onchocerciasis and LF are co-endemic;

· Good medical practice and approved prescribing procedures are used when albendazole and/or Mectizan are distributed.

For onchocerciasis, the MEC evaluate requests for Mectizan intended for use in community-based mass treatment programs and makes recommendations to MDP and Merck on scientific and programmatic issues.

For LF, the MEC/AC evaluates requests for Mectizan and albendazole combination therapy and makes recommendations to MDP, Merck & GSK on scientific and programmatic issues.

Financial Support

MDP’s work on onchocerciasis is fully supported by Merck & Co., Inc. while its work on LF is jointly supported by Merck and GlaxoSmithKline.

Partners

MDP works in partnership with Ministries of Health (MOH) in endemic countries, international Non-Governmental Development Organizations (NGDOs) working in endemic countries, the World Health Organization, the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, the Onchocerciasis Elimination Programme in the Americas and their technical advisory bodies.

Technical experts from academic institutions and the above-listed partner organizations are regularly invited to attend the meetings of the MEC and the MEC/AC where scientific and operational issues related to the mass treatment programs using albendazole and/or Mectizan are presented, discussed and policies set.