Nigerian Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Virology with Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, in Abia, has detailed how he confirmed a drug which he discovered can cure HIV/AIDS.
The Nigerian varsity don, Prof. Maduike Ezeibe, gave the explanation while addressing newsmen, following the unveiling of a drug confirmed to wipe out traces of the virus in human by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Francis Otunta.
He said that the two minerals “are already in use as medicines for the treatment of various animal and human diseases.”
“10 persons living with the disease ‘who volunteered’ were made to apply through their doctor to the VC.
“They were treated daily with the Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate (50 mg/kg),
“With the antiviral effects of the medicine, its ability to reach all cells (as nanoparticles) and the lymphocytes, there is no more hiding place (sanctuary) for HIV,” he said.
Ezeibe also said that he presented the research findings to the World Virology Conference in Atlanta in 2015, and Antonio (Texas) in 2016.
Besides, he said that the results of the laboratory tests had been published in many international scientific journals, including the British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, among several others.
He explained that the medicine had been used to potentiate Ampicillin, Chloroquine, Piperazine and Sulphadimidine, among others, and could be a major foreign exchange earner for Nigeria if approved by relevant authorities.
Ezeibe, who said that the medicine was patented in August 2014 in Nigeria, called on the Federal Government to help him to secure international patency for the drug.
According to him, “local and international pharmaceutical companies would find the product as a veritable raw material.”
“If commercialized, the Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate would become an alternative for petroleum to the Nigerian economy.”
If the drug was concocted as far back as in 2014 and no reputable pharmaceutical company came for it, that means the efficacy of the drug is in doubt. By the way, it is not the duty of FGN to force any partnership with either foreign or national company to sell your drug. The essence of patenting ones finding is to invite entrepreneurs and if they don’t come it means they are not interested.The veterinary professor is well advised to stick to treating livestock for which there are many diseases requiring his attention and leave aspects of human medicine to medical doctors and pharmacists. Alternatively he should seek their cooperation for useful collaborative research output. It is easy to patent anything in Nigeria because there is either absence of viable patenting offices in the universities or lack of credible academics in government patenting offices.