NAFDAC disowns Covid-19 drug produced by Catholic monks

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has distanced itself from PAX CVD PLUS, a drug developed by Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories, owned by Catholic monks in Edo State, who claim it can treat Covid-19.

A statement signed by the agency’s Director General, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, in Abuja, Friday evening, noted that the drug under contention- PAX CVD PLUS, had for not been registered by NAFDAC.

According to the statement: “The attention of the Agency has been drawn to an advertorial from Pax Herbal Clinic and Research Laboratories titled: “An Official Statement By Paxherbals on the Treatment Of COVID-19”.

“The advertorial claimed that Paxherbal has developed a new drug called PAX CVD PLUS for the treatment of COVID-19 and is working with NAFDAC to speed up approval for use of the drugs.

“The same advertorial claimed that the Director-General of NAFDAC has appointed experts to work with PAXHERBAL on what the company has described as a special project.

“NAFDAC wish to inform the public that PAX CVD PLUS has not been registered nor listed for treatment of COVD-19, neither have we registered nor listed any other remedy for COVID-19.

“To set the records straight, at no time did the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, or anyone in the Agency appointed any expert or staff to work with PAXHERBAL on any project.

“The company wrote a letter to NAFDAC informing the Agency about their development of an antiviral plant based drug with potential to treat COVID-19 and an invitation to join their research team.

“The Agency politely declined since as a regulator of clinical trials, participation would be a conflict of interest.

“However, we encouraged them to carry out clinical trials which should be under strict supervision of the Agency to establish efficacy of their product. “However, the clinical trial has not taken place.

“It is therefore, unfortunate that PAXHERBALS have made claims that are not backed up by facts.” This response, the NAFDAC DG stressed, is intended to correct the erroneous impression created by the advertorial.”