Merck announces expansion of the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP)

Today Merck announced an expansion of the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP) to reach up to an additional 100 million people per year through 2025 to support the expansion of triple-drug therapy as part of the global effort to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). DOLF research showed that adding ivermectin to diethylcarbamazine and albendazole can accelerate the time to reach LF elimination. WHO recently published new guidelines that recommend the triple drug combination for mass drug administration programs in settings where diethylcarbamazine and albendazole are already being used. These guidelines prompted Merck to expand its donation of Mectizan to countries outside of Africa.