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Strong Recommendation for Pyronaridine-Artesunate in Revised World Health Organization (WHO) Malaria Treatment Guidelines

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Malaria

Inclusion in the latest version of the WHO Guidelines for malaria is a key step towards broader use of the medicine

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 25, 2022/APO Group/ — 

MMV (http://www.MMV.org) and Shin Poong Pharm. Co., Ltd. welcome the formal inclusion of Pyramax® (pyronaridine-artesunate) in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Guidelines for Malaria (http://bit.ly/3EZSJep) following an extensive review process.

The WHO’s Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria are the standard reference which guide country-level policies for managing malaria. New medicines are only recommended for inclusion following a robust and in-depth evaluation of evidence using the GRADE (http://bit.ly/3XuGnSy) framework, which provides a systematic approach for making clinical practice recommendations. Following this review – which included one of the largest clinical studies to evaluate real-world efficacy and safety of any antimalarial – the Guideline Development Committee recommended the formal inclusion of Pyramax in the guidelines with a “STRONG” recommendation – the highest level of confidence.

Pyramax is a fixed dose artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and the only one to be specifically indicated for the blood-stage treatment of the two dominant species of malaria parasite: P. falciparum and P. vivax. The medicine is also available in a child-friendly granule formulation to ensure palatability and therefore correct dosage in this vulnerable population.

Both Pyramax tablets and Pyramax granules received European Medicines Agency (EMA) positive scientific opinions from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) through Article 58, based on a robust development programme.  To date, over 2.9 million malaria patients have been treated with the medicine, including children under the age of 1.

Both formulations are currently registered for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in 29 countries in Africa and Asia.  

Following the positive scientific opinions for use, a large Cohort Event Monitoring study was implemented in 5 African countries [1] under the supervision of the CANTAM Network [2] to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Pyramax under conditions similar to everyday clinical practice. This study, which reported high effectiveness (D28 PCR-adjusted cure rate of 98.6%), included over 8,500 acute malaria episodes in 7,154 patients, and has recently been published in PLoS Medicine [3].

Pyramax was included in the WHO’s list of pre-qualified medicines in 2012, and in the WHO’s Essential Medicines Lists for both adults and children in 2017. Pyramax has subsequently undergone a positive review by the WHO’s Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medicinal Products in 2019, which included a review of interim data from the CANTAM study.

The addition of Pyramax to the WHO Guidelines for malaria is an achievement that we are proud to have reached with our long-standing partner Shin Poong Pharm. Co., Ltd.

Following this review in October 2019 and pending the next revision of their Guidelines for Malaria, the WHO published an Information Note supporting the use of Pyramax at country level, stating that “artesunate-pyronaridine can be considered a safe and efficacious ACT for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in adults and children weighing 5 kg and over in all malaria-endemic areas….countries can consider including this medicine in their national treatment guidelines for the treatment of malaria”.

“The addition of Pyramax to the WHO Guidelines for malaria is an achievement that we are proud to have reached with our long-standing partner Shin Poong Pharm. Co., Ltd.,” said Dr David Reddy, MMV’s CEO. “We ventured into the Pyramax project to help save the lives of adults and children with malaria. Therefore, we will continue to work with Shin Poong to register both the tablets and granules of Pyramax in more malaria-endemic countries, facilitating equitable access to this important new addition to the malaria treatment toolkit.”
 

“The official inclusion of Pyramax into WHO’s Guidelines for malaria is a crucial step allowing malaria endemic countries to choose Pyramax as a first line ACT with confidence. The managerial decision to commence the Pyramax project was based on Shin Poong’s core values and company policies, which have guided us for over half a century. We will continue to produce qualified products to supply potent, reliable, simple treatment to patients”, said Shin Poong Pharm. Co., Ltd.


[1] Gabon: Albert Schweitzer Hospital (CERMEL), Lambaréné, Côte d’Ivoire: Health Center of Azaguié & Health Center of Agboville, Cameroon: Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé & Mfou District Hospital, Congo: Congo foundation for the Medical Research, Brazzaville, Makélélé Hospital, Health Center of Madibou, DR of Congo: Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Mont-Amba Hospital, Kinshasa, Evangelic Medical Institute of Kimpesé 

[2] For more information about CANTAM, please visit: http://bit.ly/3GGf9CE

[3] To read the CANTAM study, please visit: http://bit.ly/3u4n6tD

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Medicines for Malaria Venture.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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