Panacea Biotec has contributed significantly in World Health Organisation (WHO) programme for Lymphatic Filariasis. Panacea Biotec developed the Diethylcarbamazine Citrate 50mg and 100 mg tablets as per quality standards of WHO and was approved for supply to U.N.Agencies in the year 2002 in record time.
Panacea Biotec produced and supplied around 37 million tablets of 50 mg and 92 million tablets of 100 mg during last four years to various countries i.e. Phillipines, Bangladesh, Thailand etc. Company will be supplying 67 million tablets of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate 50 mg tablets to Phillipines in Q4 2007-08.
Lymphatic filariasis arises from infection with Wuchereria bancrofti (bancroftian filariasis), Brugia malayi, or B. timori (both known as brugian filariasis and as Malayan and Timorian filariasis respectively). It occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. Larval forms are transmitted by mosquitoes. The larvae penetrate the lymphatic system where they mature to adult worms that may live for many years. Infective microfilariae are produced within 3 to 6 months and enter the peripheral bloodstream, from where they are ingested by further mosquito vectors in which new larvae develop.
Lymphatic filariasis may be asymptomatic but both acute and chronic symptoms also occur. Inflammatory reactions to immature and adult worms in the lymphatic system produce episodic adenolymphangitis with fever. In men, bancroftian filariasis characteristically presents as epididymo-orchitis. Abscesses may occasionally occur, particularly with brugian filariasis. Chronic lymphadenopathy is frequently seen. The main clinical features in chronic bancroftian filariasis are hydrocele, lymphoedema, elephantiasis, and chyluria. Chronic brugian filariasis typically causes lymphoedema and elephantiasis in the limb below the knee or elbow. Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is a clinical variant of filarial disease, particularly of W. bancrofti infection. The symptoms include cough, wheezing, and eosinophilia. If untreated the condition can progress to chronic interstitial fibrosis.
Diethylcarbamazine is used in the management of lymphatic filariasis. In endemic areas where more than 5% of the population is infected, mass treatment of the entire population (excluding neonates, pregnant women, and debilitated individuals) can reduce the intensity of transmission and the incidence of disease. In countries where there is no co-endemic loiasis or onchocerciasis, a global elimination campaign launched by WHO together with other international agencies.
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