ZMAPP, EBOLA TRIAL DRUG: NIGERIA ENDORSES ITS USAGE


                     It's really good seeing that your country is making all effort to ensure proper of her citizens. Although so many things to be done,for this step taken, i think Nigeria should be commended. Since the arrival of the current reigning and deadly virus in West Africa, Ebola (EVD), came in to the country in July, Nigeria's Health Ministries at all level have been unrest, trying to prevent it disastrous outbreak. Apart from the over NGN 1billion FG approval, Nigeria has recently endorsed the use of the Ebola clinical trial drug,ZMAPP, for usage on her patients upon the approval of WHO in their last meeting in Switzerland on Monday 11th August, claiming that it is not unethical to use such drug in this kind of critical situation without submitting application to the country's major institutional health research ethics for review and/or approval. And this has led the committee to waive the current requisites that the international shipment of any biological samples out of Nigeria to be proceeded by establishment of Material Transfer Agreement, the waiver which is claimed to promote fast international response to the global emergency. It was further claimed that the decision would also help in gathering some health facts like its proper usage, side effect etc. However, Phase 0 and Phase 1 of any experimental drug that may further be designed for treatment of this infection can only be approved the National Health Research committee.
              ZMAPP produced by American bio-pharmaceuticals, MAPP, is expected to be on use from this week, though the manufacturer warns of limited supplied. WHO emphasised the still-experimental status of the drug that the drug has only been confirmed on monkey but has not yet been safely confirmed on humans but showed improvements,from its former administrations. The drug formular which is claimed to contain cocktail of antibodies will attack proteins on the virus surface and its the only drug that has been used safely on humans.
                 Also, it was claimed that vaccine for the disease is promising and has also shown to work on primates. America,trying to fast-track the process,says it will be available by 2016. hehe....the world can't wait....


You have anything to add? make your comment

Comments