Mectizan Donation Program

10/22/2026

What can 25 years of collaboration on lymphatic filariasis elimination teach us about the work ahead?

Progress reflects decades of country leadership, scientific advances, partnerships, and community commitment. Looking ahead means considering how those foundations can support the next phase of elimination—and sustain care for people affected by LF.
Join the GAELF Virtual Fall Convening to reflect on the journey and contribute to the conversation about what comes next.

November 4–5, 2026
8–11 a.m. EST | 2–5 p.m. CET each day
Online

Register here: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AhzYrmbWb9KjGvwDcXtnYCAZFkRBTFlnrzZmXPegvGcUoo11Bg_T~Avy7qkbpogvEAcfPjuAEtt5mHKz-gvE5Kk6LnKnPCwEHWsXRAJsv0TJ0-Q

10/21/2026

It’s our 39th anniversary! On this day in 1987, Merck & Co., Inc. announced the historic donation of Mectizan for river blindness—“as much as needed, for as long as needed.” The donation was expanded in 1998 to include lymphatic filariasis (LF), and again in 2017 and 2025 for “triple therapy” against LF in eligible countries.

In the first year, 255 thousand Mectizan treatments were approved. The number has grown steadily and in 2025, 349 million treatments were approved for 37 countries in Africa and Latin America as well as Yemen.

Merck remains committed to donating Mectizan until these devastating diseases are eliminated. The Mectizan Donation Program is proud to work alongside our partners, including national ministries of health, NGOs, World Health Organization (WHO), and the donor community until river blindness and LF are a thing of the past.

📸Community Drug Distributors at a gathering in Togo hold up the dose poles used in mass drug administration of Mectizan. Photo by Julio Johnson

10/16/2026

We are happy to host the 76th Mectizan Expert Committee/Albendazole Coordination meeting at our home base at The Task Force for Global Health in Atlanta this week. The weather cooperated to allow for good discussions over lunch on the patio.

10/14/2026

We are excited to announce that our film “Five Billion Mectizan Treatments: The Promise” has been selected as a FINALIST in the 2026 Big Syn International Film Festival, London—the world's biggest sustainability film festival and an official United Nations Civil Society Organization to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.

“The Promise” tells the story of Merck’s longstanding commitment to donate Mectizan and the impact on eliminating river blindness and lymphatic filariasis to end these two debilitating diseases.

Thank you to Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, MSD Invents Haarlem, and other partners who collaborated to make this film, and to for recognizing this inspiring story.

Watch it and see for yourself!
https://youtu.be/xyfaIL8FjMQ?si=IETGsRcOr1vmvuAs

10/13/2026

10/08/2026

On we celebrate successes in ending river blindness (onchocerciasis) after 39 years of mass drug administration with Mectizan. Last year over 270 million Mectizan treatments were approved for the elimination of this devastating disease in 24 countries. Five countries have now been verified as having eliminated river blindness—including Niger, the first country in Africa. Local heroes like these community drug distributors in Togo make it possible.

10/07/2026

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

World Health Organization (WHO) Weekly Epidemiological Record 🌍 Global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis: progress report, 2025 Now available ▶️

Weekly Epidemiological Record 2 October 2026 No. 39, 2026, 101, 252 This annual report from the World Health Organization covers the following information: Progress towards the 2030 NTD road map targets MDA implementation in 2025 Progress in implementing alternative MDA regimens Epidemiological surv...