Zika Bobby
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dovizia Pharma Services, Mr. Oladipupo Ojo, has identified the need to ‘innovatively’ prosecute the war against malaria, with the view to reducing the increasing number of malaria-induced ailments among Nigerians.
According to him, it was in this regard that his company introduced Pyramax, an anti-malaria drug.
Speaking at the unveiling of the drug in Lagos, Ojo said Dovizia Pharma Services was partnering with a Korean-based drug manufacturing company, Shin Poong Pharma, manufacturers of the Pyramax drug, to help distribute it in the private sector.
He said it had become imperative to introduce Pyramax in Nigeria, going by the increasing incidents of malaria-
induced ailments in the country.
Ojo was optimistic that the new drug would go a long way in addressing a major challenge facing the people on the continent.
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Prof Akin Osibogun, Professor of Public Health at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said despite spending close to $35 billion over 32 years to fight malaria in this part of the world, the efforts were still not enough. “But, I’m excited that a Nigerian pharma company has deemed it fit to partner with Korean pharma firm to tackle a major issue confronting us in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking on the development, Operation Director, Shin Poong Pharma, Rene Cazetien, explained that the decision to partner with Dovizia to combat malaria in Nigeria was informed by the company’s rich pedigree in sales and marketing of pharma products in the country.
Cazetien added that one of the unique selling points of the new anti-malaria drug is the fact that, unlike other drugs, it can be taken with or without food.
“Unlike other anti-malaria drugs where the patient will be required to eat before taking the drugs, to enhance efficacy, Pyramax works effectively in the patient, with or without food,” he stated.