In a bold move to address the growing diabetes crisis in Nigeria, EVA Pharma Nigeria officially launched three cutting-edge products aimed at improving the management of diabetes and its complications. The highly anticipated event took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, and was attended by a wide range of healthcare professionals, including renowned experts in endocrinology and orthopaedics. The launch marks a significant step toward making life-saving medications more affordable and accessible to Nigerian patients battling diabetes.
The event featured expert presentations from leading figures in diabetes care, such as Professor Femi Fasanmade, Dr Bolanle Okunowo, Dr Israel Akinmokun, and Dr Yunde Oloyede. They spoke on the challenges of diabetes management in Nigeria and the need for comprehensive approaches that go beyond simply managing blood sugar levels to addressing the debilitating complications of the disease, which include neuropathy, kidney damage, and blindness.
In an exclusive interview with pharmanewsonline, Country Head of EVA Pharma Nigeria, Pharm. David Otokpa, emphasised the company’s mission to provide quality medicines at affordable prices, particularly for people in sub-Saharan Africa who often struggle with the high cost of healthcare.
Breaking barriers to accessing affordable medicines
“EVA Pharma has a long heritage, dating back to 1917, but we only established our presence in Nigeria in 2022,” Pharm. Otokpa explained. “We decided to focus on sub-Saharan Africa because of the urgent need for accessible and affordable medicines. While high-quality medicines are available in the region, the challenge is that they are often priced beyond the reach of many people.”
EVA Pharma, which operates in over 70 countries across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, is committed to addressing the affordability problem that hampers healthcare access in many parts of Africa. Currently, the company is focused on endocrinology, particularly diabetes, metabolic diseases, and virology in Nigeria, with plans to expand into other therapeutic areas in the future.
“Affordability is a key priority for us,” Otokpa continued. “As one of the world’s low-income regions, Nigeria needs affordable healthcare solutions. We are committed to providing the same quality of medicines that are available in developed countries, but at prices that Nigerians can afford.”
Local manufacturing plans in the pipeline
Pharm. Otokpa also discussed EVA Pharma’s plans for local manufacturing in Nigeria. While the company currently imports medicines from its factories in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, it is in talks with local and state governments to establish manufacturing facilities in Nigeria.
“We are in discussions with relevant regulatory bodies and state governments regarding the possibility of setting up local manufacturing,” Otokpa revealed. “However, building a facility that can produce up to one million pharmaceutical products daily is not something that can happen overnight. We are committed to local production, but in the meantime, our products will remain accessible to Nigerian patients.”
Navigating a competitive market
The diabetes medication market in Nigeria is highly competitive, with several multinational and local companies offering treatment options. However, Otokpa remains confident in EVA Pharma’s ability to make a meaningful impact, not by competing with existing companies, but through collaboration and synergy.
“We don’t see other companies as competition in the traditional sense,” Otokpa said. “We believe in collaboration and leveraging what others have done. We are already working with some of the big names in the industry, manufacturing for global brands you might not even expect.”
He added that collaboration creates opportunities for flexibility in pricing, quality, and availability, ultimately benefiting patients. “We all have the same goal: patient care. Competition creates better pricing, better quality, and more options for the people who need it most.”
Innovative products for comprehensive diabetes management
The three products unveiled at the event are designed to treat different forms of diabetes and prevent its complications. One of the key products is Gliptus Plus (Vildagliptine 50 mg + Metformin Hydrochloride 1000 mg), which targets hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). According to Otokpa, while high blood sugar itself is dangerous, the real threat to many diabetic patients lies in the complications it causes, such as neuropathy (nerve damage), kidney failure, and blindness.
To address this, EVA Pharma introduced Thiotacid (Thioctic Acid 600 mg), a product developed to manage diabetic neuropathy, a condition that has no effective treatment options in Nigeria. Thiotacid aims to alleviate symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the extremities and prevent more severe complications like amputations, which are common among diabetic patients with advanced neuropathy.
The third product is Donifoxate (Febuxostat 40 mg), used to manage hyperuricemia, a condition that often coexists with diabetes and can exacerbate complications. These three products represent a holistic approach to diabetes care, focusing not just on controlling blood sugar levels but also on preventing the devastating consequences of the disease.
A message of hope for diabetic patients
Pharm. Otokpa also shared a message of hope for Nigerian patients suffering from diabetes, a disease often considered expensive to manage. “While diabetes can be an expensive condition to treat, we are making it our mission to change that. We want Nigerians to know that they can live normal lives without fear of being overwhelmed by medical bills. In addition to these products, we are working to make insulin available at much more affordable prices in the near future.”
He concluded, “At EVA Pharma, we understand the financial pressures many Nigerian families face, and we are committed to offering high-quality, affordable medications. Our goal is to ensure that diabetes management becomes not just possible, but sustainable for all Nigerians.”
EVA Pharma’s launch of affordable diabetes medications marks a significant milestone in addressing the growing healthcare needs in Nigeria. With a focus on affordability, quality, and collaboration, the company is poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of Nigerians suffering from diabetes and its complications. As the company expands its operations and production capabilities, it promises to deliver even more affordable solutions to one of the most pressing health challenges facing the country today.
