Mass Treatment Program Information

Mectizan™ is available free of charge through a donation program of Merck & Co., Inc. The intent of the program is to provide access to Mectizan for people who are infected with, or at risk of infection from, onchocerciasis, as well as people at-risk for lymphatic filariasis (LF) who live in onchocerciasis-endemic communities.

Since the announcement of the donation program in 1987, organizations in all onchocerciasis-endemic countries have established mass treatment programs. To date, Merck has provided enough drug for close to 250 million onchocerciasis treatments; it is estimated that more than 30 million people currently receive Mectizan annually for the treatment of this disease.

In 1998, Merck announced the expansion of the Mectizan Donation Program to include mass treatment to eliminate LF as a public health problem in countries that are co-endemic for onchocerciasis and LF.

By 2002, seven African countries and Yemen had established mass treatment programs to eliminate LF using Mectizan and albendazole (donated by GlaxoSmithKline). More than 20 million dual treatments have been administered. The remaining African countries that will use this strategy for the elimination of LF are expected to initiate mass treatment programs by 2010.

The Mectizan™ Expert Committee, an independent group of scientists and advisors, and the Mectizan Donation Program, its secretariat, evaluate requests for Mectizan intended for community-based mass treatment programs for both onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. For lymphatic filariasis, the Mectizan Expert Committee was expanded to include 2 LF advisors to provide technical expertise on matters related to the combined treatment with Mectizan and albendazole for LF. The Mectizan Donation Program strives to ensure that good medical practice and approved prescribing procedures are adhered to when Mectizan is used.

Community-based programs treat all eligible persons in endemic communities. The distribution of Mectizan takes place through in-country partnerships comprised of ministries of health, WHO, non-governmental development organizations, and local communities proficient in delivering healthcare services and ensuring the medically responsible use of the drug. In many countries, Mectizan treatment is planned and managed by the communities themselves, thus ensuring sustainability.