– As Experts Brainstorm on Disease Management
Fosun Pharma has unveiled a new anti-malaria product, Argesun Artesunate injection with single solvent for the first time in Nigeria. The new product, an artesunate injection, comes in 30mg, 60mg, 120mg and 180mg.
During his presentation before the unveiling on Saturday, September 28 2024 at Radison Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, General Manager of Tridem Pharma Nigeria Limited (a Fosun Pharma company), Mr Jusber Shu, highlighted the strategic position their parent company, Fosun Pharma occupies in the global pharmaceutical and healthcare market.
Shu said Fosun Pharma is a global innovation-driven pharmaceutical and healthcare industry group. He added that Fosun Pharma directly operates businesses including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical diagnosis, and healthcare services.
“Fosun Pharma is patient-centred and unmet clinical needs-oriented. Through diversified and multi-level cooperation models such as independent research and development, cooperative development, license-in, and industrial investment, the company continues to enrich its innovative product pipeline and focus on differentiated product R&D with high-tech barriers, to continuously enhance the value of its pipeline”, he said.
Speaking on the theme of the symposium: “Current Trends in Malaria Case Management, Prof. Olugbenga Mokuolo (Professor of Paediatrics, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital) and Dr Oluwajimi Sodipo (Consultant Family Physician/HOD, Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital) were unanimous in their call for caution as it concerns the diagnosis and treatment of malaria. They warned of the consequences of allowing just anybody carry out the diagnosis of the ailment, stressing that only trained personnel should handle malaria microscopy.
Dr Sodipo observed that 97 percent of Nigeria’s population is at risk of getting malaria while Northern Nigeria has the highest prevalence because of the intensity of rainfall in the region starting from the month of July to September. He also added that between 2019 and 2020, global malaria cases increased from 218 million to 230 million with deaths also rising from 552,000 to 604,000. “Of the 249 million, cases estimated globally in 2022, Nigeria has 60 million, representing 30 percent of the global burden as well as 30 percent of global deaths. Northwest Nigeria has the highest prevalence of malaria among children,” he said.
On his part, Prof. Mokuolu acknowledged the fact that the most common strain of malaria parasite is plasmodium falciparum, he however added that a less-publicised strain of the parasite, plasmodium knowlesi, has been in existence and poses serious health issues as it has been classified a zoonotic disease. Prof. Mokuolu said P. knowlesi is popular in Southeast Asia and is transmitted through contact with the model primate the rhesus macaque (rhesus monkey).
While acknowledging the challenges posed by malaria in Nigeria, Prof. Mokuolu harped on the need for proper diagnosis, early detection and treatment of the disease, especially among children in order to avoid needless deaths. In order to avoid such deaths, he called on stakeholders, both government and other healthcare stakeholders to ensure the availability of quality medicines. It was to this end that he applauded the unveiling of Argesun as a timely addition and innovative addition to the pharmaceutical arsenal for the anti-malaria war in Nigeria.
Speaking on the significance of the malaria symposium as well as the unveiling of Argesun, National Sales and Marketing Manager of Tridem Pharma Nigeria Limited, Pharm. Sudipta Nandi said while the symposium is part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, it is also a strategic platform to announce to the public the arrival of an innovative malaria solution.
“This is our own way of raising awareness about malaria and that is why you can see not only doctors but also nurses and pharmacists. There are also key distribution people here. This is a wholistic programme we have initiated in order to address the real issue of malaria.
“With Argesun, people should not die easily because of malaria. We know that 30 percent of global malaria burden and deaths are from Nigeria. This is a huge burden. We don’t want this trend to continue and that is why we are working out innovative solutions like Argesun for the betterment of the lives of the patients.
“Our core objective is the improvement of patient care through innovative products like Argesun. We as a pharmaceutical company are working to ensure that Nigeria’s huge malaria burden is drastically reduced. Even though many pharmaceutical giants have left Nigeria due to the economic challenges facing the country, Fosun Pharma and Tridem Pharma are here to stay and we shall survive the temporary tough times,” he said.
