Moxidectin, which was developed by Ugandan Ophthalmologist Dr. Amos Nyathirombo and a team of other specialists, is an 8mg oral treatment in patients aged 12 years and above.

River blindness is caused by a parasitic worm  and is transmitted from person to person by black flies.

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The approval of moxidectin was based on data of a large phase-3 clinical study conducted by the specialists in four research laboratories in Ghana, Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

He told Pulse Live Uganda that he was the core investigator at Ituri -- one of the two research facilities in DRC -- where major tests where done.

The study showed that moxidectin treatment was more effective than Mectizan (ivermectin) in suppressing the presence of the disease causing parasite in the skin.

Ivermectin was previously the only drug approved for river blind and is the current standard approach for its control and elimination.

The approval is a significant step in eliminating river blindness and innovative financing for more treatments.

More than 99% people living in sub-Saharan Africa are infected and nearly 200 million people are at risk for river blindness which causes severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions and visual impairment, including blindness.