Egypt’s Eva Pharma has inked a licensing deal with Eli Lilly to manufacture the latter’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment Olumiant and eventually supply the drug in 49 countries across the continent.
Lilly and EVA have been collaborating since 2021 and in 2022, partnered to manufacture insulin in Africa.
EVA will begin sales of locally manufactured Olumiant (baricitinib) – used for treating rheumatoid arthritis and hair loss caused by the autoimmune disease alopecia areata – by 2026.
Olumiant recorded a whopping $922.6m in sales last year.
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Development Bank investment to help Africa make its own medicines
BRAVE trials show that baricitinib can slap down alopecia
Dependence on Indian-made drugs puts Africa at risk