Mamadou Tahirou, an 18-year-old suffering from sickle cell disease, faces severe symptoms including bone pain, anemia, fatigue, and headaches that frequently require hospitalization. His mother, Rabiatou Diallo, described him as very tired and often in the hospital, with medication and hospital costs being very expensive.
Africa accounts for nearly 80% of cases of this inherited red blood cell disorder but has historically relied on costly imported medication from Europe and the Americas. This has left many Africans without access to the active ingredient needed for effective treatment.
Senegalese company Teranga Pharma, led by CEO Mouhamadou Sow, has developed Drepaf, a generic version of hydroxyurea—the gold standard treatment for sickle cell disease. Sow stated, "So the first key point is that Teranga Pharma has enabled Senegalese and Africans to gain access to this molecule."
Before Drepaf, patients unable to afford or obtain imported medicine had no local treatment options. Doctors often treated only the disease's consequences rather than its root cause, the red blood cells.
This development marks a significant step toward improving healthcare access for sickle cell patients across Africa.
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