WHO approves first African-manufactured malaria medicine

Universal Corporation, with support from Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) and Unitaid, has become the first African manufacturer to gain World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), a medicine used to prevent malaria in pregnant women and infants.

Pre-qualification is a service provided by the WHO to assess the quality, safety and efficacy of medicinal products. Quality assurance of Universal's SP product Wiwal opens a route for procurement by global scale-up partners that will improve access and help strengthen Africa’s ability to combat endemic diseases.

The certification will enable Kenyan manufacturer Universal to support regional efforts to combat malaria through local production of high-quality SP.