Senegal has begun local production of DREPAF, a generic hydroxyurea treatment for sickle cell disease, in what is being hailed as a major milestone for pharmaceutical production and healthcare access in Africa.
The medicine is being produced by Senegalese pharmaceutical company Teranga Pharma in partnership with Drep.Afrique, with the initiative designed to make an established sickle cell treatment more accessible and affordable to patients.
The development is particularly significant for Africa, which carries a disproportionately large share of the global sickle cell disease burden while many patients have historically depended on medicines imported from outside the continent.
Senegal’s locally produced DREPAF
DREPAF is a generic formulation of hydroxyurea, a medicine widely used in the management of sickle cell disease.
Hydroxyurea can help reduce painful crises, hospitalisations and the need for blood transfusions among people living with sickle cell disease. It is not a cure for the condition but is an established treatment that can help manage its complications.
Teranga Pharma produces DREPAF locally in Senegal, providing an African-made alternative to imported hydroxyurea products.
The initiative has been described by its partners as an important step towards strengthening pharmaceutical sovereignty on the continent.
Focus on children and affordability
The DREPAF initiative also includes a paediatric formulation designed for younger patients, addressing one of the challenges associated with providing appropriate sickle cell treatment to children.
The locally produced medicine is intended to reduce some of the cost and supply barriers that have made access to hydroxyurea difficult for many African families.
Drep.Afrique says the treatment is produced under a humanitarian partnership aimed at making the medicine available at an accessible cost.
A major development for Africa
Sickle cell disease remains one of the major inherited blood disorders affecting populations across Africa. The World Health Organization estimates that millions of people worldwide live with the condition, with sub-Saharan Africa carrying the majority of the global burden.
For years, dependence on imported medicines has created challenges around availability, affordability and supply continuity.
Senegal’s local production of DREPAF therefore represents more than the launch of another pharmaceutical product. It demonstrates the potential for African countries to manufacture essential medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect their own populations.
Beyond Senegal
Teranga Pharma has indicated plans to expand production and supply other African markets as demand grows.
The company has already attracted interest from several countries, while discussions and partnerships are being pursued to expand access across the continent.
The broader ambition is to strengthen local pharmaceutical capacity and reduce Africa’s dependence on imported medicines.
Hope for people living with sickle cell disease
For families affected by sickle cell disease, increased access to affordable treatment could make a significant difference in managing the condition and reducing the frequency of serious complications.
Senegal’s DREPAF initiative places locally manufactured medicine at the centre of that effort and offers a powerful example of how African pharmaceutical production can respond to an African health challenge.
The development is being welcomed as a significant step towards a future in which more medicines needed by Africans are produced on the continent.
