The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership Provides Unique Model for Fight Against Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in South Africa
November 09 2007 - 12:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Technology Transfer Creates Sustainable Solution to Treat One of
the World's Oldest and Deadliest Diseases CAPE TOWN, South Africa,
Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- During the annual meeting of the
International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD),
The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership brought together experts to highlight
the battle against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in
South Africa as a model for the work being done by The Partnership
around the world. South Africa is one of the highest-burden MDR-TB
countries. The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership -- a public-private
initiative of 14 organizations focused on stopping the spread of
MDR-TB and ultimately conquering the disease -- is transferring
manufacturing know-how to technology partners around the world. The
technology transfer partner in South Africa, Aspen Pharmacare, sold
its first batch of cycloserine to Botswana in 2006 and is now
producing cycloserine in a brand new facility in Port Elizabeth,
South Africa, that has a capacity in excess of 4 billion tablets
and capsules per year. Cycloserine is a Lilly antibiotic that is
instrumental in the treatment of second-line tuberculosis, or
MDR-TB. Aspen has also now begun construction of a facility at the
Port Elizabeth site to produce vials of capreomycin, another
critical medicine in the fight against second-line tuberculosis,
and is expected to produce this medicine at the facility in early
2009. Capreomycin was developed by Eli Lilly and Company several
years ago. "The ability to manufacture cycloserine locally is
essential to treating the plight of multidrug resistance in South
Africa," said Mr. Stavros Nicolaou, Executive Director of Aspen
Pharmacare. "This initiative allows us to directly address this
highly contagious disease, which has a tremendous impact on the
health of our country and the entire African continent." Aspen
Pharmacare works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO)
to supply medicine to countries approved by the WHO Green Light
Committee (GLC). The GLC helps countries gain access to
high-quality, second-line anti-TB medicines so they can provide
treatment for people with MDR-TB in line with WHO guidelines. In
addition to the transfer of technology, The Lilly MDR-TB
Partnership enhances access to medicines, trains doctors and
nurses, raises awareness, promotes prevention, supports
communities, advocates on behalf of patients and conducts
early-stage drug discovery. "The Lilly Partnership initiatives all
have one thing in common -- improved care for some of the world's
most vulnerable people," said Dr. Patrizia Carlevaro, Head of the
International Aid Unit for Eli Lilly and Company. "Through
initiatives that create immediate, yet sustainable solutions, our
shared goal is to contain and someday conquer this deadly disease."
Lilly will host a Satellite Symposium, "The Lilly MDR-TB
Partnership: Coming Together to Fight TB Resistance," at the IUATLD
meeting. The Symposium is focused on sharing best practices and
insights about this public-private initiative, which is now in its
fifth year. The IUATLD, composed of 127 member countries, has
provided technical assistance, education and research promoting
lung health in low- and middle-income countries for nearly a
century. The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership business model, including its
unique transfer of technology, is making such an impact that it is
now being taught as part of public policy course work at INSEAD in
Paris, France, and soon will be taught at Harvard and Columbia
Universities in the U.S. About the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership The
Lilly MDR-TB Partnership was created to confront
multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a disease so daunting that no
single organization can fight it alone. Since 2003, this
public-private initiative, mobilizing 14 partners on five
continents, has worked together to share expertise in the quest to
contain and conquer one of the world's oldest diseases. The
Partnership's multi-pronged approach includes: community support
and patient advocacy; treatment, training and surveillance;
transferring technology; research; and awareness and prevention.
Additional information about The Lilly MDR-TB Partnership is
available at http://www.lillymdr-tb.com/. C-LLY (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO ) (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071109/CLF001LOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071109/CLF001LOGO DATASOURCE:
Eli Lilly and Company CONTACT: Christine Van Marter, Eli Lilly and
Company, +1-317-554-7923 Web site: http://www.lillymdr-tb.com/
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