Mectizan

Ivermectin (Mectizan, Stromectol) is the primary treatment for filarial nematode infections (onchocerciasis) that invade ocular tissues and cause loss of vision (river blindness). Ivermectin may also be used in filarial infections in other tissues (lymphatics, skin). This drug is a secondary agent for treating intestinal nematodes such as strongyloidosis. 

But that s exactly what Merck did. On October 21, 1987, Roy Vagelos, then the CEO, declared that Merck would donate as much Mectizan as necessary, for as long as necessary, to treat river blindness and help bring the disease under control as a public health problem. The company also worked with the World Bank, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and more than two dozen other groups to set up a distribution system. 

Then, very pointedly, in talking about his Mectizan decision, Vagelos says, If you re going to be a research company and be as successful as Merck —pause— was —pause— you have to take some giant steps. ... 

South America. Because Mectizan is a very effective treatment, Merck is providing this drug free of cost to all people in need as a part of the Mectizan Donation Program, which... 

Ivermectin appears to promote the passage of Loa loa microfilaria into the cerebrospinal fluid, with a maximum after 3-5 days, followed by an intense allergic reaction to the dying microfilaria. The Mectizan Expert Committee defined a definite case of Loa loa encephalopathy related to ivermectin as having to satisfy two criteria ... 

Kennedy MH, Bertocchi I, Hopkins AD, Meredith SE. The effect of 5 years of annual treatment with ivermectin (Mectizan) on the prevalence and morbidity of onchocerciasis in the village of Garni in the Central African Republic. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 2002 96(3) 297-307. 

The Mectizan Expert Committee. Central nervous complications of loiasis and adverse CNS events following treatment. Atlanta Mectizan Donation Program, 1996. 

Analogous to the derivation of Synercid from a veterinary antibiotic, another famous example of the use of a modified veterinary product in man as an antiparasitic is the oral use of ivermectin (Mectizan, Stromectol) (42a (80%), 42b (20%) Figure 9) in the treatment of strongyloidiasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness), and for the treatment of filariasis. In addition to these uses (predominately in Africa), in 2006 Banyu received approval of the product in Japan for the treatment of scabies. ... 

Mectizan saturated hydrocarbons, very soluble in propylene glycol ... 

Single-dose ivermectin greatly reduces microfilarial concentration. An estimated 300 million Africans are at risk of lymphatic filariasis. Merck plans to donate ivermectin (Mectizan) for the disease through the same system successfully established for the treatment of onchocerciasis. 

Ivermectin. 22,23-Dihydroabamectin 22,23-dihydroavermectin B, 22,23-dihydro C-076B, MK-933 Cardomec Eqvalan Heartgard 30 Ivomec Mectizan Zimecterin. Semi-synthetic deriv of abamectin, q. v.. one of the avermectins, q.v Ivermectin contains at least 80% of... 

Ivermectin (Mectizan) broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug PO 200 ug/kg/ldose... 

Ivermectin (MK-933, mectizan, ivomec). I. is a mixture of two very similar macrolide antibiotics, that can be prepared semisynthetically from avermectins. 

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