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Visakhapatnam-based Eisai Pharmatechnology and Manufacturing Pvt Ltd on Tuesday stated it has begun free supply of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) 100 mg tablets to the World Health Organization (WHO).
DEC is used to treat lymphatic filariasis, a tropical disease, commonly known as elephantiasis.
Eisai plans to supply 2.2 billion DEC tablets to WHO for use in national mass drug administration (MDA) programmes, free of cost, the company stated in a press release.
Having started the production of DEC in August 2013, Eisai said it will provide a steady supply of DEC tablets over 2013 to 2020 for distribution through WHO's MDA programmes to 250 million people living in at-risk communities in 26 targeted countries.
According to the company, the free supply of DEC is in line with its commitment to help WHO in its global effort to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in targeted developing and emerging countries.
The Pacific island nations of Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji have been confirmed as the first countries to receive the initial shipment.
