NIPRD, NEXIM, Ministry Collaborate On Sickle Cell Drug

Three institutions in the health and finance sectors have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the production of the sickle cell drugs in Nigeria.

They are the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) and the Federal Ministry of Health.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Pate said at the signing in Abuja, Thursday, that the drug was a plant based, scientifically approved and produced locally to help in the management of sickle cell.

“NIPRD has done well in terms of coming up with this and is being complimented by NEXIM bank as well as other stakeholders to finance the production.

“This initial phase is social production phase, not yet at commercial scale.’’

The drug Niprisan, formerly known as “Nicosan’’ is an anti sickling phytomedicine for the management of sickle cell crises which was developed at by NIPRD.

The drug, produced with extracts from four botanical plants in Nigeria, does not cure sickle cell anaemia, but only manages to reduce the frequency of the ailment.

It will be recalled that the Federal Government, two years ago, stopped the production of Niprisan due to issues bordering on finance.

Pate noted that the production would be one commercially viable engagement which the country would benefit from.

He said that beyond Niprisan, the research organ would go further on research that might help sufferers of other diseases.

The minister commended the NEXIM bank for its commitment and assured the financier of Federal Government’s support for the effective production of the drug in the country.

gaged in the initial production of the drug.

NAN reports that NEXIM had syndicated more than N700 million in loans with Diamond Bank and Keystone Bank for the production of the drugs in the country.

Also, Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, the Director General NIPRD said the product was to reactivate and revalidate the viability of Niprisan and to also look at the training needs that would help cover any gap in the production.

“We are definitely coming behind the research malaria; diabetes which are also in line will go through what Niprisan had gone through.

He said that with the signing of the MOU, NIPRD had crossed another milestone in its history.