By Dan-Maryam Zayamu
Cuban scientists in partnership with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), may begin a collaborative work in the area of COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in Nigeria, fidings have shown.
The collaborative efforts will also include the production of local vaccine for various diseases including COVID-19.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the collaboration is an outcome of the visit of the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Clara M. Pulido-Escandel, to NIPRD some few months ago.
Even though the source did not disclose which of the medicines or vaccine will undergo the clinical trials in the partnership, the top source who is familiar with NIPRD, however, confirmed that scientist from the Cuba and NIPRD may soon begin the work.
Some areas of interest in the collaborative efforts of the two countries, may include Clinical trial of Saberena 1&2 , Melagenina and other products, therapeutics, general Research and Development (R&D), drug discovery and diagnostic kit development and vaccine research & development.
The effort, according to the source, will put an end to the challenges faced by Nigeria in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine because after the clinical trials, the vaccines will be produced locally.
The collaborative-arrangement which may soon kick-off, the source said, will see NIPRD bringing over 20 globally acclaimed top class scientists to work with the Cuban team of scientists.
The source said that even though the effort will be mutually beneficial to both countries as both will benefit in the area of skills exchange toward attaining medicines security, NIPRD will, however, benefit from Cuba which has attained reasonable self-sufficiency in vaccine development and production.
“You will recall that Nigeria is making efforts to ensure that we have COVID-19 vaccine and in fact, other vaccines and drugs developed locally, this collaboration will be an opportunity for Nigeria through NIPRD to fast track the process.
“All processes are currently being worked out and it may soon start,” the source who pleaded anonymity said.
It would be recalled that during the heat of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria, NIPRD under the leadership of its current Director General, Dr. Obi Adigwe, developed hand sanitizers in order to address shortages in supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 virus.
The sanitisers were adjudged to be among the highest quality because the formulas were said to be contextual to Nigeria’s environment and in terms of ensuring activity against the spread of the coronavirus.
NIPRD also went further to open a database for local pharmaceutical manufacturers who have been licensed to produce hand sanitizers in Nigeria.
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