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Eli Lilly, a leading American pharmaceutical company, has partnered with Egypt-based generics manufacturer EVA Pharma to enhance access to Eli Lilly’s baricitinib (Olumiant) across African countries.

This collaboration builds on a previous successful partnership between Eli Lilly and EVA Pharma focused on local insulin manufacturing. That earlier initiative aimed to increase the availability of affordable insulin in Africa, leveraging EVA Pharma's local production capabilities to address the rising demand for diabetes treatment.

According to the president of Lilly International, Ilya Yuffa, this new collaboration will be centered around a voluntary licensing agreement where Eli Lilly will provide specific baricitinib manufacturing know-how, allowing EVA Pharma to manufacture and distribute the drug across most countries in Africa.

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"Our commitment to expanding access to affordable and innovative medicines for people living in low- to middle-income countries continues," Ilya stated.

The collaboration is consistent with Eli Lilly’s 30x30 project, whose goal is to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people living in resource-limited settings annually by 2030.

Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma, expressed excitement at the prospect of producing the medicine locally.

"We are proud to localize the entire value chain of this critical medication on the continent, from producing high-potency baricitinib active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to tackling complex manufacturing challenges."

About baricitinib

Baricitinib, discovered years ago by Incyte and thereafter licensed to Eli Lilly, is an immunomodulatory medication that acts through inhibition of the enzyme Janus kinase. The drug treats rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, and COVID-19.

Sales of the locally manufactured baricitinib to various African countries are expected to commence by 2026.

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