Accra, Feb. 18, GNA - LaGray Chemical Company, on Wednesday rolled out a locally manufactured antifungal vaginal cream that can treat vulvovaginal candidiasis, popularly called white. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most common diseases in women and according to medical experts every female at some point in time in her life will experience vaginal yeast infection. More than 85 per cent of vaginal candidiasis is caused by the fungal organism candida albicans.

Volvovaginal candidiasis is not a sexually transmitted disease and occurs in the warm and moist parts of the body such as the mouth and the skin. It overgrows due to stress, pregnancy and illnesses that affect the immune system and may allow candida to multiply. Mycopirox is anti-fungal agent with antibacterial and anti inflammatory properties that can inhibit many fungal enzymes and fungal skin infections including tinea pedis popularly called athletes foot or foot rot and ring worm.

Dr Alexandra E. Graham, Co-founder of the Nsawam and Nigeria-based pharmaceutical company, said at the launch of the product in Accra that the company had built a multiple technology factory that is focused on the disease burden of Africa.

The diseases include malaria, respiratory tract infection, hypertension, skin diseases and diarrhoea. Dr Alex Dodoo, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana described the product as a success story that can create jobs in Ghana. Mr Maxwell Twum Barima, Senior Marketing Specialist of LaGray noted that 55 per cent of women in their mid 20's are afflicted by venereal diseases, which could lead to low self esteem. He said the patients also suffer resistant strains and recurrent candidiasis.

Mr Johnny Allotey, Manager, Business Development of LaGray said the drug met the platinum standard of treating bacteria and fungi infections. Professor Yao Kwakume, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, who chaired the function, recommended the drug as efficacious and asked patients to patronise it.

LaGray founded by Dr Paul Lartey, a Ghanaian is the first West African pharmaceutical manufacturer to produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API).

The company manufacturing capacity includes 10 metric tonnes of API, eight million laminated aluminium oral capsules and 150 million tablets per annum. 18 Feb. 10