By Hassan Zaggi
Following the remarkable performance and acceptability of NIPRISAN, a sickle cell remedy developed by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in many countries of the world, President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to continue to support local drug production in Nigeria.
The President stated this in Abuja, after receiving an award conferred on him by NIPRD as the Champion of Sickle Cell eradication in Nigeria.
“We will continue to do our best to ensure that priority is placed on the local production of medicines by providing the appropriate support for NIPRD in order to carry out her mandate.
“It is our best desire to see that these contributions to research and development in the country subsequently eradicates sickle cell disease and promotes healthcare for the Nigerian people,” the president said.
Represented by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, President Buhari said that, “my joy remains that indeed, this administration has played critical roles to promote the eradication of sickle cell disorders by ensuring the ease of manufacture and commercialisation of NIPRISAN, now called NICLOVIX.
“The production of NICLOVIX by manufacturers in the country has substantially increased access to the drug for people with SCD within and outside the expanse of Nigeria.
“I am particularly optimistic of our ability to achieve more as a nation to subjugate the menace of sickle cell disease that has been prevalent in the Sub-Saharan African region.”
Speaking, the Minister of Health, who was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Senator Adeleke Mamora, disclosed that the NIPRD’s sickle cell remedy is now used in over 45 countries of the world.
“As you may be aware, NIPRD has emerged as regional leader in developing evidence-based interventions for healthcare. Some of the most outstanding breakthroughs at NIPRD are in the areas of sickle cell anaemia, malaria, diabetes, fungal infection and peptic ulcer. It is now a well-known fact that NIPRISAN, a phytomedicine developed by the Institute is world renowned for the management of sickle cell disease. NIPRISAN is patented in the US (US patent No. 5,800,819 of September 1998) and there is evidence that it is being used in 45 other countries across the world.
“It is also worthy to note that during the first term of this current administration the Federal Executive Council approved the Licensing Agreement for NIPRISAN with a local manufacturer, and this commercialisation process ultimately resulted to an exponential increase in accessing the product globally.
“This initiative has consequently increase access to healthcare services for sickle cell disease patients both within Nigeria and beyond, as well as improving their quality of life,” the Minister said.
Earlier, the Director General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support towards NIPRD’s innovative potential for traditional medicines and first-in-class therapies that will subsequently subjugate the menace of sickle cell disease and improve access to quality healthcare delivery in the African continent and the world at large.
He recalled that the approval by the National Executive Council for the Licensing Agreement for NIPRISAN™ with a local manufacturer, was a turning point for the sickle cell medicine.
“This landmark initiative has ultimately resulted in an exponential increase in access for people with SCD, not just in Nigeria, but across Africa and globally as well.
“With the support of His Excellency, NIPRD convened and developed a phytomedicine verification and validation protocol to ascertain the safety and efficacy of indigenous resources and has since being championing innovative strategies for the production of medications that possess reasonable activities such as NIPRIMUNE and NIPRIMUNE PLUS against COVID-19.”
