HQ Team
September 4, 2024: Eli Lilly will license manufacturing know-how of its rheumatoid arthritis baricitinib drug, branded as Olumiant, to Egypt’s EVA Pharma to expand its access to 49 nations in Africa.
This collaboration is part of the Lilly 30×30 initiative, which aims to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people living in resource-limited settings annually by 2030, according to a statement from the Indianapolis, Indiana-based company.
Baricitinib is an immunomodulatory drug that works by blocking the action of Janus kinase enzymes, which are involved in the inflammation that causes rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
It can help relieve joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, and slow down the joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The drug is also used to treat alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and Covid-19.
Immune response
Immunomodulators are medicines that change your immune system so it works more effectively. They include treatments that increase or decrease your immune response. Immunomodulators treat various conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases.
“Following our collaboration with EVA Pharma on insulin manufacturing, we are now establishing the first of its kind voluntary licensing agreement for Lilly, where the company will provide certain baricitinib manufacturing know-how to enable EVA Pharma to manufacture and supply baricitinib to people in 49 countries across Africa,” said Ilya Yuffa, executive vice president and president of Lilly International.
The drug was developed by US-based Incyte Corporation and licenced to Eli Lilly.
EVA Pharma’s facility is set to begin sales of the locally manufactured baricitinib by 2026 to various African countries, according to the statement.
Affordable insulin
EVA will localize the entire value chain of baricitinib in Africa — from producing high-potency baricitinib active pharmaceutical ingredient to tackling complex manufacturing challenges, said Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma.
EVA Pharma has been working with Lilly to ensure a sustainable supply of life-saving medicines across several African countries since 2021.
In 2022, Lilly and EVA Pharma announced that they would collaborate to expand access to affordable insulin in 56 countries, most of which are low- to middle-income.
EVA Pharma’s portfolio focuses on disease areas, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, oncology, neuroscience, ophthalmology, anti-infectives, bone and pain, hepatology, and reproductive health, to meet both local and international demand.
It has an extensive pan-African presence with operations in more than 40 countries worldwide.
