There is
hope for sickle cell anaemia patients in Nigeria following an agreement to
start commercial production of a home grown drug for the disease.
hope for sickle cell anaemia patients in Nigeria following an agreement to
start commercial production of a home grown drug for the disease.
The
National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) signed
the agreement with a Nigerian pharmaceutical company, May and Baker, to produce
the drug called Niprisan.
National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) signed
the agreement with a Nigerian pharmaceutical company, May and Baker, to produce
the drug called Niprisan.
A few
weeks ago, the Federal Executive Council gave approval to the agency and the
pharmaceutical company to scale up production and marketing of the anti-sickle
cell formula discovered by NIPRD researchers several years ago.
weeks ago, the Federal Executive Council gave approval to the agency and the
pharmaceutical company to scale up production and marketing of the anti-sickle
cell formula discovered by NIPRD researchers several years ago.
This is
aimed at reducing the burden of the disease in Africa and other parts of the
world where the disease is common.
aimed at reducing the burden of the disease in Africa and other parts of the
world where the disease is common.
Sickle
cell anaemia is a common problem particularly among Africans, South-east Asians
and Latin Americans.
cell anaemia is a common problem particularly among Africans, South-east Asians
and Latin Americans.
The agreement a press statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday said the
agreement was signed in Abuja by Managing Director of May & Baker Nigeria,
Nnamdi Okafor, and the Acting Director-General of NIPRD, Olabayo Kunle.
agreement was signed in Abuja by Managing Director of May & Baker Nigeria,
Nnamdi Okafor, and the Acting Director-General of NIPRD, Olabayo Kunle.
This was
done in the presence of the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole.
done in the presence of the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole.
The
minister said the commercialisation of Niprisan herbal product has come a long
way to serve as a model for the production and development of regulatory
guidelines for the assessment and registration of phytomedicines in Nigeria.
minister said the commercialisation of Niprisan herbal product has come a long
way to serve as a model for the production and development of regulatory
guidelines for the assessment and registration of phytomedicines in Nigeria.
He noted
that the project was the first herbal medicinal product in Nigeria to go through
the full process of clinical studies starting from phase one to the end. He
said it should be marketed to all Chief Medical Directors / Medical Directors
for the treatment of sickle cell anaemia.
that the project was the first herbal medicinal product in Nigeria to go through
the full process of clinical studies starting from phase one to the end. He
said it should be marketed to all Chief Medical Directors / Medical Directors
for the treatment of sickle cell anaemia.
Mr
Adewole also called the establishment of May and Baker laboratory in NIPRD as
the first collaborative effort of the Federal Ministry of Health through NIPRD
and May & Baker.
Adewole also called the establishment of May and Baker laboratory in NIPRD as
the first collaborative effort of the Federal Ministry of Health through NIPRD
and May & Baker.
This, he said, would encourage the production of more drugs
for the treatment of other ailments and further strengthen the collaboration
between the two organisations for the overall benefit of Nigerians.
for the treatment of other ailments and further strengthen the collaboration
between the two organisations for the overall benefit of Nigerians.
Speaking on the agreement, Mr Okafor said May and Baker took
on the task of producing Niprisan so as to provide succour to many homes who
have been weighed down by the agony of sickle cell anaemia.
on the task of producing Niprisan so as to provide succour to many homes who
have been weighed down by the agony of sickle cell anaemia.
“We expect this product to be a commercial success and a leading
product of our company as we intend to give it all the attention required.
product of our company as we intend to give it all the attention required.
“With its commercial production, May & Baker will not
only have added to her large basket of successful quality medicines but would
set the blaze in encouraging local research into various medicines,” he said.
only have added to her large basket of successful quality medicines but would
set the blaze in encouraging local research into various medicines,” he said.
The commercialisation of the drug is expected to
substantially relieve the sickle cell disease burden which is responsible for
the death of hundreds of thousands of people in the country yearly and has
brought agony to many families.
substantially relieve the sickle cell disease burden which is responsible for
the death of hundreds of thousands of people in the country yearly and has
brought agony to many families.
Niprisan is one of the few successful formulas for treatment
of sickle cell anaemia.
of sickle cell anaemia.
