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NIGERIA: FG Seeks Japan’s Trial Ebola Drug
http://www.africaeagle.com/2014/09/nigeria-fg-seeks-japans-trial-ebola-drug.html
The federal government yesterday announced that it has applied for a Japanese drug in the treatment of Ebola virus disease.
Minister of health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was speaking at the opening of the second emergency National Health Council on Health meeting, said apart from the Japanese drug the country was applying for the TKM-Ebola drug alongside two other vaccines which have been identified by the Treatment Research Group.
He said, “Following the Treatment and Research Group’s recommendation, and in consultation with NAFADAC and NHREC, Nigeria has indicated interest to participate in the clinical trials for two candidate EVD vaccines and are considering a third that may be added to the list. We have also applied for experimental drugs such as TKM-Ebola.”
Chukwu said the Treatment and Research Group has submitted a detailed profile and brief on the oral antiviral agent which the Japanese government has offered to make available to affected countries through the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He explained, “Our initial knowledge of the agent is that it has been shown to have strong antiviral activity against the influenza virus following phases I and II human trials; it is now going through phase III clinical trials; it is shown to have strong antiviral property against Ebola virus in vitro and in vivo. These and the fact that it is considered safe, having passed through phase I and II clinical trials, make it a good candidate drug for use in emergency situation as the EVD.
“We are now considering this profile and brief to enable us reach a final decision on making it available to our patients,” he said.
Source: Leadership
Minister of health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was speaking at the opening of the second emergency National Health Council on Health meeting, said apart from the Japanese drug the country was applying for the TKM-Ebola drug alongside two other vaccines which have been identified by the Treatment Research Group.
He said, “Following the Treatment and Research Group’s recommendation, and in consultation with NAFADAC and NHREC, Nigeria has indicated interest to participate in the clinical trials for two candidate EVD vaccines and are considering a third that may be added to the list. We have also applied for experimental drugs such as TKM-Ebola.”
Chukwu said the Treatment and Research Group has submitted a detailed profile and brief on the oral antiviral agent which the Japanese government has offered to make available to affected countries through the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He explained, “Our initial knowledge of the agent is that it has been shown to have strong antiviral activity against the influenza virus following phases I and II human trials; it is now going through phase III clinical trials; it is shown to have strong antiviral property against Ebola virus in vitro and in vivo. These and the fact that it is considered safe, having passed through phase I and II clinical trials, make it a good candidate drug for use in emergency situation as the EVD.
“We are now considering this profile and brief to enable us reach a final decision on making it available to our patients,” he said.
Source: Leadership
