By Hassan Zaggi
Cuban scientists and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), may begin a collaborative work in the area of clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccine, investigations have shown.
The collaborative efforts which will be conducted in Nigeria will also include the production of local vaccine for various diseases including COVID-19.
Our investigation showed that the collaborative effort is an outcome of the visit of the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Clara M. Pulido-Escandel, to NIPRD headquarters in Abuja, some few months ago.
The source did not, however, disclose which of the medicines or vaccine will undergo the clinical trials in the partnership.
The top source who is in the know of the happenings in NIPRD, however, confirmed that scientist from Cuba and NIPRD may soon begin the work.
Some areas of interest in the collaborative efforts of the two countries, the source disclosed, include Clinical trial of Saberena 1&2 , Melagenina and other products, therapeutics, general Research and Development (R&D), drug discovery and diagnostic kit development and vaccine research & development.
The source noted that the effort is a step in the right direction for NIPRD and Nigeria at large, because according to him, NIPRD and Cuba are blessed with some of the best brains in R&D globally.
The effort, according to the source, will put an end to the challenges faced by Nigeria in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine because after the clinical trials, the vaccines will be produced locally.
The collaborative-arrangement which may soon kick-off, the source said, will see NIPRD bringing over 20 globally acclaimed top class scientists to work with the Cuban scientists.
The source said that even though the effort will be mutually beneficial to both countries as they will both benefit in the area of skills exchange toward attaining medicines security, NIPRD will, however, benefit from Cuba which has attained reasonable self-sufficiency in vaccine development and production.
“You will recall that Nigeria is making efforts to ensure that we have COVID-19 vaccine and in fact, other vaccines and drugs developed locally, this collaboration will be an opportunity for Nigeria to fast track the process.
“No individual or country has all the knowledge in the world, therefore, this effort is timely because it will enable Nigeria and Cuba to share vital knowledge and experience in important areas of clinical trials and vaccine production from natural products.
“All processes are currently being worked out and it may soon start,” the source who pleaded anonymity because he has not been authorised to speak on the matter said.
It would be recalled that during the heat of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, NIPRD under the leadership of its current Director General, Dr. Obi Adigwe, developed hand sanitizers in order to address shortages in supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 virus.
The sanitisers were adjudged to be among the highest quality because the formulas were said to be contextual to Nigeria’s environment and in terms of ensuring activity against the spread of the coronavirus.
NIPRD also went further to open a database for local pharmaceutical manufacturers who have been licensed to produce hand sanitizers in Nigeria.
