Senegal is strengthening Africa’s pharmaceutical independence with the local production of DREPAF, a generic form of hydroxyurea used to manage sickle cell disease.
Produced by Senegalese pharmaceutical company Teranga Pharma in partnership with Drep.Afrique, DREPAF is described as the first hydroxyurea generic manufactured locally in Africa.
The treatment comes in 500 mg and 100 mg formulations, including a pediatric version designed for children from around nine months of age.
Local production is also helping lower the cost. The 500 mg formulation has been reported at around 98 CFA francs, compared with approximately 203 CFA francs for an imported equivalent.
The development could be significant for a continent carrying a major share of the global sickle cell disease burden, where patients have historically faced expensive imported medicines and supply shortages.
Teranga Pharma is now looking beyond Senegal. The company has been pursuing regulatory approvals and partnerships in several African countries, with Burkina Faso, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire among the markets already being developed, while the DRC, Gabon and Cameroon have expressed interest.
DREPAF does not cure sickle cell disease, but hydroxyurea can significantly reduce painful crises and hospitalizations and improve long-term disease management.
The story represents more than a new medicine. It is also a growing example of African pharmaceutical manufacturing aimed at reducing dependence on imported healthcare products.
Source: @historicalafrica
