Healthcare | Monday 4 July, 2016 5:26 am |

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has granted a license to the first Saudi-made medicine for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV), local media said. The announcement reportedly comes in line with the strategy of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Tenth Saudi Development Plan, which is primarily aimed at eliminating HCV by 2030, media said.

The Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries and Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO) has launched a medicine called “Sofira,” which is the first Saudi pharmaceutical product for the treatment of hepatitis C.
Spimaco CEO Fahad Al-Khalaf said his company has been active for years in producing pharmaceutical products for the treatment of incurable diseases such as chronic viral hepatitis, which is the direct cause of liver cirrhosis.
In this context, he expressed thanks to the SFDA for its continued support to the national industries and for granting approval to this particular product.
Meanwhile, the company plans to offer electronic applications on smart mobiles to acquaint patients with a healthy life and to ensure that they follow the treatment program. The application is also intended to raise the level of contact between patients and health service providers, the company said.
Some 1.4 million patients around the world are dying from the hepatitis disease every year, according to statistics. According to available data, HCV prevalence in Saudi Arabia varies in different provinces, with the highest rates being in the Western and Southern provinces. Most of the studies among blood donors documented a decrease in HCV prevalence, probably due to increased awareness and improved socioeconomic status.