Lilly and EVA Pharma to broaden baricitinib access in Africa

Eli Lilly and EVA Pharma have established a partnership aimed at improving access to baricitinib in 49 low to middle-income African countries by 2030. Baricitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, is prescribed for Covid-19, severe alopecia areata in adults, and moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in patients unresponsive to tumor necrosis factor blockers.

This initiative aligns with Lilly’s 30×30 strategy, which aspires to enhance healthcare for 30 million people in underserved regions each year by 2030. Baricitinib, originally discovered by Incyte and marketed by Lilly under the brand name Olumiant, will benefit from this collaboration.

EVA Pharma's advanced high-containment facility will manufacture and distribute baricitinib locally by 2026 across the specified African territories. The agreement will take advantage of EVA Pharma's extensive pan-African network and its adherence to international manufacturing standards. This will allow Lilly to expand the availability of this crucial medication to areas with limited access to advanced treatments.

Lilly International's executive vice-president and president, Ilya Yuffa, emphasized the company's dedication to making innovative and affordable medicines available to people in low to middle-income countries. He noted that this agreement with EVA Pharma represents Lilly's first voluntary licensing arrangement for baricitinib manufacturing. Through this agreement, Lilly will provide EVA Pharma with the necessary manufacturing expertise to produce and distribute baricitinib across the African continent.

EVA Pharma and Lilly have been collaborating since 2021 to ensure a stable supply of essential medications in various African countries. Their efforts have focused on making insulin more affordable and accessible in 56 primarily low to middle-income nations, as revealed in 2022.

Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma, stated that they are proud to localize the entire value chain of baricitinib on the continent, from producing high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients to overcoming complex manufacturing challenges.

This collaboration follows Lilly's recent expansion of a commercial agreement under which Organon will exclusively distribute and promote the migraine medication Emgality (galcanezumab) in 11 new markets.