The Union government is now on an aggressive mode to scale up innovations that could help eliminate the dreaded lymphatic filariasis. The initiative is under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). The focus is on the new Triple Drug Therapy (IDA) which will be made available in 16 districts across 5 states namely Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra to accelerate the pace of elimination of the disease. The IDA is a combination of 3 anti-filarial drugs: Ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) and albendazole.
Global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has entered into an agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd. for an exclusive option to commercialize benralizumab for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Japan.