One of a monthly social series of films we create for the Mectizan Donation Program, taken from a recent shoot we did in Togo, West Africa. Foreign shoots like these are a great way to gather a bulk of content and deliver on a yearly comms plan with fresh, bespoke filmed footage.

Community health workers filmed in Togo, West Africa, for Cloud Nine Media’s MDP Social Series.

Merck Mectizan Donation Program Film

Client Brief
Merck asked us to create a film celebrating 5 billion Mectizan treatments donated for river blindness and elephantiasis. They wanted a piece to share with staff and show at their main factory in Haarlem. Therefore, the goal was to highlight the program’s scale, impact, and Merck’s long-term commitment.

Our Approach
First, we combined staff interviews from last year’s annual event with archival footage from years of filming the Mectizan Donation Program across multiple countries. This approach allowed us to show both the human and operational impact of the program.

Next, our MD, Steve Maud, composed a soundtrack called The Promise, inspired by Merck’s motto: “As much as needed, for as long as needed.” The music guided the narrative and emphasized the dedication behind the program. Additionally, by blending heartfelt interviews, historical footage, and cinematic visuals, we illustrated the difference 35 years of commitment has made to communities around the world.

Impact and Results
As a result, the film premiered at Merck’s annual event and received enthusiastic applause. It reinforced the Mectizan Donation Program as a cornerstone of Merck’s work and strengthened staff pride. Furthermore, the film helped secure additional funding for the program and increased awareness of the company’s global impact.

Overall, by telling the story of Merck’s long-term commitment, the film demonstrates how strategic content can educate, inspire, and celebrate at the same time. The Merck Mectizan Donation Program film commemorated a historic milestone and created a shared sense of purpose among staff. In this way, it made the scale and importance of the initiative tangible and meaningful for everyone who watched it.

In a heartwarming 2-minute film, we journey through time from the 1980s to the present to discover the incredible story of Mectizan.

It’s an inspiring story about a simple pill that’s had a life-changing impact for millions of people across the world. And it starts with Professor Gil Burnham‘s dedication to testing Ivermectin as a treatment for Onchocerciasis, which became a remarkable journey that led to the treatment of two neglected tropical diseases: Oncho and Lymphatic Filariasis.

The film captures the transformative power of Mectizan through its success story. We learn about the program’s transition from a disease control program into an elimination program, as over 12 billion Mectizan pills are distributed across the world. From the factory to the hands of those who need it this tiny pill goes through a very long journey to have a huge impact in countries’ health systems.

Most touching of all, we witness the momentous achievement of eliminating Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis in eight different countries, freeing people from the shackles of these diseases. But the impact doesn’t stop there: Mectizan’s success has led to the inclusion of a new sector in public health, NTDs (Neglected Tropical Diseases), in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3.