hello zaini and baal
yup got some info here and its true the guy who contated me on facebook told me that they use it for dietbities sickel cell and thalassemia
hmmmm i know this might not work or it might but why not put some hope right? i mean all it takes is sending this email adress a letter here is what i got as feedback about the med:
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NICOSAN TM/HEMOXIN TM
A DRUG FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE.
7.0 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM (formerly NIPRISAN) is a drug first developed by the
National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) for
the management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). It consists of a mixture of
extracts from four tropical plants some of which are cultivated and others
found in the wild both within and outside Nigeria.
The story of NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM will be incomplete without acknowledging
some of the great minds, which have contributed immensely towards its
development. Historically, a similar remedy was mentioned in the book titled
“Iwosan” published by the late Dr. Odumosu at the turn of the century.
However, the modern day origin of what later became patented as NIPRISAN
was due to the late Rev. Paul Ogunyale, then Pastor of the First Baptist Church
in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, who brought the attention of Prof. Charles
Wambebe, former Director General, NIPRD in late 1992 to a herbal recipe of
the drug.
From 1992 to 2001, Prof. Wambebe and his team of researchers at NIPRD,
supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the World Health
Organization (WHO), worked tirelessly to develop NIPRISAN as a potent drug
for the management of SCD and was patented in the United States of America
under the leadership of Prof. Wambebe. After the retirement of Prof. Wambebe
from NIPRID, his successor, Dr. Uford S. Inyang continued tirelessly with more
developmental work in taking NIPRISAN to a higher level.
7.1 THE BIRTH OF NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM
In August 2001, a joint conference on biotechnology was organized at Cook
College, New Brunswick, NJ between the Sheda Science and Technology
Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja and Rutgers University under the leadership of Dr.
Soji Adelaja, who was then Dean of Research at Cook College and New Jersey
Agricultural Experiment Station (Cook/NJAES), and Dr. Albert Ayeni, then Weed
Scientist at Cook/NJAES and currently Coordinator of International Programs of
Cook/NJAES.
Dr. Ramesh C. Pandey, Chairman & CEO, Xechem International, Inc.,
represented his company at this conference. What transpired during and after
the conference propelled Dr. Pandey to explore the possibilities in the
applications of biotechnology for drug production in Nigeria. At the instance
of Prof. Turner T. Isoun, the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology,
Dr. Pandey visited Nigeria for the first time in October 2001 with Dr. Albert
Ayeni. This visit aroused in Dr. Pandey the interest in exploiting biotechnology
for drug development in Nigeria. The first product of interest, NIPRISAN was
thus, introduced to him by Dr. Ayodele Coker, the Director- General of
SHESTCO, and later by Dr. Uford S. Inyang, the Director- General of NIPRID.
1
In July 2002, negotiations were successfully concluded between NIPRD and
Xechem International under the direction of Prof. A. B. C. Nwosu, then the
Honourable Minister of Health. Xechem International was granted the exclusive
rights for development, production and marketing of NIPRISAN. To give effect
to the agreement, Xechem Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Ltd, which is located within
the premises of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, was incorporated
in 2002.
7.2 ABOUT SICKLE CELL DISEASE:
Sickle cell Disease is a genetic blood disorder caused by an abnormality in the
hemoglobin molecule as depicted in the figure below. The condition causes the
production of abnormal hemoglobin that contains portions that stick together
after the release of oxygen. This phenomenon produces stiff, sickle shaped red
blood cells that do not flow freely through blood vessels. These sickle shaped
cells create clogs in the blood vessels, which prevent the flow of normal
hemoglobin and oxygen round the body. The result is severe pain or “crises”,
ulcers, organ and tissue damage and breakdown, which eventually lead to
stroke and acute chest pain. The body’s immune system also attacks and seeks
to destroy the abnormally shaped cells, often leaving the body with an
insufficient number of normal oxygen- carrying red blood cells, which in turn
results in anemic condition that manifest in fatigue and enhanced susceptibility
to infection. It is estimated that there are 10 million sufferers of SCD
worldwide, of which about 4 million are Nigerians.
Sickle Cells Normal Cells
Repeated crisis can also result in damage to the kidneys, lungs, bones, eyes
and the central nervous system. The most feared complication for children
with SCD is a stroke which affects infants as young as 18 months. Many
children with SCD do not survive infancy or early childhood. Adults with SCD
often experience a reduction in the quality of life due to severe physical
problems such as pain, Hard- foot syndrome and acute lung complications that
can result in death. Frequent episode of severe bone pain, crises and
hospitalization significantly affect the lives of these patients. It limits their
ability to participate in normal physical activities, thus retarding their social
2
and economic advancement. It also deprives them of the joy of living life to the
fullest and instills the fear of early death in them.
Before the advent for NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM the only known cure for the
disease is a bone marrow transplant to replace defective red blood cells with
donor healthy cells. Treatment has generally consisted of supporting therapies,
which include folic acid for anemia, penicillin to prevent infections,
pneumococcal and influenza vaccination, pain killing drugs and intravenous
injection of fluids. In the United States of America, Hydroxyurea is the only
drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of
SCD. It is very expensive and toxic and patients treated with hydroxyurea
exhibit severe side effects.
7.3 HOPE FOR THE SICKLERS.
NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM is a non- toxic, phytopharmaceutical product
composed of extracts from four tropical plants, seeds, stems, fruits and
leaves. Each plant is indispensable in the manufacturing of
NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM. Xechem Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited has
developed refined and standardized small- scale formulations of
NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM for consistent production in strict compliance with the
recommended procedures and policies of the WHO.
NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM has already undergone phase I and phase II clinical
trials conducted in Nigeria by the NIPRD. Results from the phase III trials, if
found satisfactory, will form the final basis for an application to the National
Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for regulatory
approval. Further laboratory testing among others have also been done at the
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - Sickle Cell Disease Reference
Laboratory (NHLBI-SCDR Lab) located at the Children’s Hospital, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, USA. The results of these trials show that
NICOSANTM/HEMOXINTM drastically reduced the degree of sickle cell formation,
and the frequency and severity of SCD crises. Liver and kidney functions
remained normal and patients gained appreciable weight. No adverse effects
were reported during the trials. These clinical studies suggest that NICOSANTM
is a safe and efficacious phytomedicine for the management of SCD. It may
have just paved the way for ending the misery and pain of millions of SCD
sufferers in Nigeria and the world at large.
Through the instrumentality of Dr. Pandey, and based on the background of
work done at the Children’s Hospital, Philadelphia (CHOP) and other published
literature in various indexed journals, on August 15th, 2003, NICOSAN™
(NIPRISAN) was granted an Orphan Drug status by the Food and Drug
Administration of the United States of America (US-FDA). The Orphan Drug
designation, entitles a company to various incentives including the waiver of
Regulatory filing fees, access to potential funding for non- clinical and clinical
research to generate required data for marketing approval, and seven years of
marketing exclusivity once approved by the FDA.
3
This was a major break- through since it was a far- fetched possibility that the
US-FDA would designate NICOSANTM (NIPRISAN) Orphan Drug status. The
Orphan Drug status has thus, added credibility and international acceptability
to NICOSANTM (NIPRISAN) as a potent drug for the management of SCD.
4