Medicines Development for Global Health announces inclusion of moxidectin on World Health Organization Essential Medicines Lists

Melbourne, Australia

Medicines Development for Global Health today announced that moxidectin has been included in the 2025 World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines and Model List of Essential Medicines for Children as a therapeutic alternative to ivermectin for the treatment of river blindness (onchocerciasis) and lymphatic filariasis.¹

The decision follows a comprehensive review by the World Health Organization Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines and represents the culmination of extensive scientific evaluation and demonstration of public health value.

Despite significant progress, existing treatment strategies are inadequate to achieve elimination of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. The challenge remains vast: nearly 250 million people continue to require preventive chemotherapy for river blindness, while a further 657 million still need treatment for lymphatic filariasis.

The decision by the World Health Organization acts as a catalyst for access. Moxidectin is superior to ivermectin in the treatment of river blindness and has a similar safety profile. Medicines Development for Global Health is committed to making moxidectin accessible at the cost of production and supply (i.e. with no profit), and is working with partners to make moxidectin available without cost to the river blindness communities wherever possible. Being listed on the World Health Organization Model Lists signals the importance of moxidectin and encourages countries to add it to their own national essential medicines lists. This, in turn, enables wider uptake, distribution, and use in endemic countries.

Widespread access to moxidectin has the potential to accelerate ongoing disease elimination efforts and improve health outcomes for millions of individuals in endemic regions.

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