a standard world-class API production plant which will be the first of its type in the Sub-Saharan African region and will meet all international requirements. As part of the deal, Mangalam will provide consulting and appropriate designs for the establishment of a standard world-class API production plant that meets WHO requirements.
The statement conveyed optimism over the collaboration. It said, “The agreement reaffirms Emzor’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the pharma sector in Africa. The signed technology transfer and licensing agreement with Mangalam, a leading Indian chemical manufacturing company, will provide in-house developed technology for manufacturing antimalarial Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)”.
According to the statement, the first goal would be on the progress of four APIs namely artemether, lumefantrine, sulfadoxine, and pyrimethamine. The chosen APIs provide malaria therapy for adults and children, as well as chemo-preventive combo treatments for malaria in pregnant women. The 2020 World Malaria Report says that in 2019, Nigeria recorded the greatest number of malaria cases worldwide and the highest number of fatalities, accounting for 27% of global malaria cases and 23 percent of global malaria deaths.
Furthermore, this deal with Mangalam is an appropriate reaction to the full reliance on overseas businesses for APIs to support the regional pharmaceutical sector. According to the statement, “Emzor is a pioneer in the Nigerian malaria space and was the first Nigerian indigenous pharmaceutical company to develop and manufacture artemether/lumefantrine, under the brand name Lokmal, launched in 2009. Maldox is Emzor’s brand name for its sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine combination antimalarial”.
