Hope for patients with
sickle cell disorder
By AZOMA CHIKWE
Tuesday,
April 24, 2007
 |
•Health Minister, Eyitayo Lambo
PHOTO The Sun Publishing |
|
In a bid to improve the wellbeing of people living with sickle
cell anaemia, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, in collaboration with
a Nigerian scientist, Prof. Gabriel Ekeke of the Biochemistry Department, University
of Port-Harcourt, has introduced formulation, Ciklavit, into the market after
about 18 years of scientific research.
The drug, now manufactured and distributed
by Neimeth, is certainly a product to be excited about considering the fact that
it is the nutritional supplement for sicklers in the Nigerian Pharmaceutical market.
Disclosing
this to Daily Sun, Roseline Oputa, Marketing Manager, Neimeth
Products Group stated that besides primarily treating the sickle cell disorder,
it additionally, boosts the nutritional status of the sickler and turns the patient
around for good invariably.
She said patients on ciklavit experiences a
welcome reduction of pains and frequency of crisis.
“It saves the patients’
money, reduces parents trauma, reduces stigma associated with the disorder and
reduces hospital visits.”
“Children on ciklavit have been proved
to experience growth sprout and enhanced puberty. The formulation improves weight,
height and he development of secondary sexual characteristics.”
“The
acceptability of the drug is international, it has been registered for commercializaiton
in Nigeria, Ghana and Gambia. It is also being used by individuals in Europe and
America and registration for commercializaiton therein is envisaged.”
“There
are resounding testimonies of success to these user countries by doctors, pharmacists,
nurses; sicklers, parents and relatives of sicklers etc. concerning the use of
the drug in the management of sickle cell disorder,” she said.
“Beyond
these clinical benefits that recommend ciklavit to its users,” she continued,
“it is also a product of indigenous research and its manufacture has 100%
local input. It is therefore, a completely Nigerian – made product, which
should attract the patronage of Nigerians and at least motivate other Nigerian
scientists and pharmaceutical companies into indigenous research and manufacturing
respectively.”
According to her, initial clinical trials were carried
out at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to establish anti-sickling properties
of the drug. “Dr Akinsulie A.O, Temiye E.O, Akanni A.S et al did clinical
evaluation of Ciklavit in the management of sickle cell anaemia and published
their fundings in the journal of tropical paediatrics.
“Current multi
centre trials are going on at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex,
Ile-Ife (OAUTHC); Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba (LUTH); Ahmadu
Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika (ABUTH), University of Calabar Teaching
Hospital, Calabar (UCTH); University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH); University
of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin (UITH), Khorie – Bu University, Ghana,
to further confirm efficacy and stated as an anti-sickling agent and establish
other continuing identified beneficial uses,” she revealed.
“On
the economic level, it is a foreign exchange earner via exports to Ghana, Gambia
and the West coast. It even has the potential of earning more forex since it is
already being used by individuals in Europe and America. It is hoped that when
the capacity of ciklavit is built up by commercialling it in Europe and America,
more forex will be raked into Nigeria. Also, since the capacity building brings
in more manpower, the capacity building in view will create more job opportunities.
“Neimeth,
in its way of showing love to sicklers, has engineered a means of sponsoring and
continuously partnering with groups called Sickle Cell Clubs and has seen to formation
of such clubs in areas where they were not existing. Such grouping ensure that
sufferers have access to a monthly clinic where they are given drugs for management
of the condition as well as ciklavit to ride over to the next session.”
“We
therefore, urge everyone to see the integrated package of Ciklavit, clinically.
It is efficacious, socially, it re-invigorates the sickler and re-integrates him
into the society, economically, it is visible – the individual sickler,
the family and the nation would be economically empowered,” she said.
In
his speech, Executive Chairman of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa,
said he was skeptical at first when Prof Ekeke came with his research, adding
that after the clinical trial and there was improvement on sickle cell patients,
“I knew Ciklavit had come to stay.” |
