is dreaming of Nicosan4All ;-)
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Therapy Analysis - Sickle cell anaemia
Treatment
There is currently no cure for sickle-cell anaemia. With such a large proportion of the world's population affected by the disease, there is a vital need for companies to actively focus on developing treatments for this life-threatening disease. Currently there are 16 products in active development for the disease, and only two of these are available for use (graph 1).
A major milestone was reached in 2006, when Xechem launched its four-plant cocktail, Nicosan (niprisan) in Nigeria, with European and US filings as Hemoxin to follow. Reaching out to the African country, it has given hope to tens of thousands of Nigerians in the fight against sickle-cell disease. Clinical Phase III trials in 82 patients in Nigeria have proven the effectiveness of this drug, showing complete remission of the disease in 73% and a substantial reduction in crisis after 6 months of treatment in the rest of the group. Though launched for indications such as Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, vertigo and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, UCB's Nootropil (piracetam), an acetylcholine agonist, has been found to be useful in the treatment of VOC in sickle-cell. It is approved in the treatment of sickle-cell in Singapore. Nootropil is thought to reduce erythrocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium, hinder vasospasm, and facilitate microcirculation.
There is no common pharmacological action for drugs in development for battling sickle-cell (graph 2). Mechanisms of action range from acetylcholine agonists to tumour necrosis factor antagonists, and selectin inhibitors. GlycoMimetics is developing selectin antagonists, which include E-selectin inhibitors and GMI-1070, a pan-selectin inhibitor, both in preclinical development. Selectins play a role in neutrophil recruitment in an early stage of the inflammatory cascade. In a murine model of VOC in sickle cell disease, a mixture of antibodies against E and P selectins improved blood flow, and GMI-1070 increased blood flow by 3 times compared to control in mice.
Icagen is developing senicapoc, currently in Phase III, a first-in-class small-molecule erythrocyte potassium channel blocker. By blocking the Gardos ion channel, it prevents the loss of salt and water, thus preventing increases in HbS concentration and resulting polymerization. A registration filing was expected in 2009; however, this drug has been met with a negative opinion in the US from the Data Monitoring Committee stating that the Phase III ASSERT trial will yield a low probability in achieving a reduction in VOC rate. Data from the trial indicated the expected increases in haemoglobin and haematocrit and decreases in reticulocytes as well as LDH and bilirubin occurred; however, there was no significant difference in safety between the test drug and placebo. A decision on the future development of senicapoc for this indication will be made following final data analysis.
SuperGen has developed Dacogen (decitabine) for myelodysplastic syndrome, with multiple cancer indications to follow, but is in Phase II trials for sicklecell, for which it has US orphan drug status. This antimetabolite analogue of 2'-deoxycytidine, administered intravenously, inhibits DNA methyltransferase and induces expression of cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) on the surface of cancer cells. Expression of CTAs is thought to precipitate removal of cancer cells by the immune system. The bone marrow can then continue to produce RBCs. In 2 Phase I/II trials in 8 patients with sickle-cell anaemia, 100% responded to decitabine. In a 36wk Phase I/II trial in 6 sickle-cell anaemia patients, foetal haemoglobin levels increased from 3 to 14% and average haemoglobin levels increased by 22%. There were no sickle-cell episodes during treatment and side-effects were minimal. A Phase II study in sickle-cell anaemia patients with subcutaneous dosing confirmed intravenous data.
http://www.pharmaprojects.com/therapy_analysis/sickle-cell-anaemia-pt3.htm
Yes, thanks, we sure have...
The 'better' days ...
...suppose they would confirm for us that construction has been stopped... Jpatel would also have some interesting photos and stories to tell imo
Larry, the name of this fine woman is Kristie not Kim.
And yes, it has been posted (several days ago). Thanks for re-posting just the same.
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
wish we knew...
CC not until Thursday July 10 at 9:30 am CDT
so what did the conference call say??
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
I'd say it's because there is too much noise on the board now
- for my part, I find it is easier to stay objective and at peace by not meddling in the 'process' ... imo
FYI- I had an order in for 2M @ .0004 placed at 8:10a.m. edt - did not get even a partial fill. I had also asked for 3M at .0005 with the same broker (ScotiaMcLeodDB) and was filled in full.
Yeah, so is my (Canadian) ScotiaMcLeod Discount Brokerage... no more online trading for any Pinks, AND they have upped the commissions to about $42 USD per. Each call takes about 4 minutes by the time you clear your ID and they find the stock, get over-ride clearance and read back the confirm. So much for snap decisions and quick trades... If my account (with them for Xgem) had not gone from several hundred $k to less than $5k I might be switching lol
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
To our Southern Friends, have a Wonderful 4th of July!
I expect a run on shares of our Xgem beginning Monday... the shares are so cheap at this time and just the fact that news is coming, no matter what it contains will get the Pink Speculators pushing this. ... of course the dump may follow if the news does not warrant the build ... all imo
Personally I am excited for the fact that we have some news just a month after the last - could be a change in direction and policy.
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
Sickle cell drug mired in controversy
Adole Hassan and Christina Scott
30 June 2008 | EN | FR
WHO/P.Viriot
A high-profile Nigerian initiative to produce large quantities of a new sickle cell anaemia drug has become mired in accusations of fraud and corruption.
Both the Nigerian branch of the private US-based company Xechem International and its state-owned partner, the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) are under investigation by the country's Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over an alleged fraud involving 400 million Nigerian naira (US$3.5 million) of public funds.
No charges have been laid, according to EFCC investigators.
The Nigerian government funded SHESTCO to help Xechem Nigeria produce and commercialise Nicosan, a drug based on a local herbal medication that combats the painful symptoms of sickle cell anaemia, the inherited red blood cell disease.
Meanwhile, question marks surround the spending of separate loans previously obtained for Nicosan production from Nigerian and US banks, whilst Xechem International is embroiled in a legal battle with its founder and former chief executive Ramesh Pandey.
The early days of Nicosan
According to the International Biomedical Research Institute (IBRI) in Abuja, about 70 per cent of sickle cell anaemia patients reside in Africa — estimated at over 12 million people. About 80 per cent of rural babies with the genetic illness die by five years of age in Africa. Charles Wambebe, chief executive officer of IBRI, says the disease is "probably the most neglected serious public health disorder in Africa".
Nigeria's population is amongst the worst affected by the disease. Nigerian Minister of State for Science and Technology Alhassan Zaku says that there are four million sufferers in the country.
Nicosan, developed by Nigeria's National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Development as Niprisan, is based on extracts from local West African plants. In 2003, Xechem bought the rights to develop the drug under the trade name Nicosan in a controversial deal (see Row over Nigeria sickle cell patent).
At the time of the sale, the drug had only passed early stages of clinical trials. But results were so positive that by 2005 both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicine Evaluation Agency (EMEA) had given the treatment 'orphan drug' status — qualifying it for financial incentives to produce drugs considered too expensive or unprofitable to develop.
The drug also received the personal backing of Olusegun Obasanjo, then president of Nigeria, who pledged to help fast track its production in the country.
Nicosan received approval from the Nigerian Food and Drug Administration in March 2006 and, according to Xechem, was first produced two months later (6 July 2006) "on a limited basis".
Xechem International announced in 2007 that it was also pursuing regulatory approval to market Nicosan in the United States and Europe as Hemoxin.
By February this year, according to a report in Nigerian newspaper the Daily Trust, Iretiolu Oniyide, managing director of Xechem Nigeria, claimed that 50,000 capsules of the drug were being produced daily, with full scale-up expected to produce one million capsules a day.
Sickle cell anaemia is characterised by sickle-shaped cells
NIH
Xechem secured two loans from the federal government-owned Nigerian Export-Import Bank (Nexim), starting with US$1.15 million in June 2006 and an additional US$2.7 million in April 2007. A Xechem press release stated that these were for "construction of manufacturing facility-related costs".
In addition, a further loan of US$9.38 million from the US bank UPS was obtained (21 May 2007), guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank, the official export credit agency of the United States federal government, which provides financing for high-risk transactions.
The US loan, like the Nigerian loan, was meant to "purchase the US manufactured prefabricated corporate offices, warehouse, plant equipment and machinery needed by Xechem Nigeria to establish a state-of-the-art facility in the outskirts of Abuja".
According to the Xechem press release, the factory was due to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2007 and would "enable Xechem Nigeria to produce commercial scale quantities of Nicosan".
But a visit (12 March 2008) by SciDev.Net to the site found no activity at the facility and construction appeared to have been stopped.
Missing money
On top of the bank loans, Xechem also obtained public funding from the Nigerian government.
But on 7 March 2008 a fraud complaint was formally brought before the EFCC against Xechem Nigeria. According to a source within the commission, who wished to remain anonymous, the complaint alleges that none of the US$3.5 million of public money was spent on drug manufacture.
An EFCC spokesperson told SciDev.Net that the commission would not comment on the allegations until after the investigation had been carried out and an interim report was complete. He could not confirm when that report would be available.
A staff member of Xechem Nigeria, who also asked to remain anonymous, told SciDev.Net that the money was spent instead, among other things, on buying luxury cars for the directors of SHESTCO and Xechem Nigeria.
Oniyide denies this, telling SciDev.Net that SHESTCO collected the government money and Xechem Nigeria had no control of the public funds.
He claims that the public funds were used by SHESTCO to support research and development on a separate Xechem project to produce vitamin C, glucose and ethanol from cassava starch and peels, as well as to support Xechem's staff with items such as a club house and company cars.
Several attempts to contact Ayodele Coker, director-general of SHESTCO, for comment were unsuccessful. On SciDev.Net's most recent effort to speak to Coker, staff said that he had gone abroad.
An international affair
Further confusion surrounds the status of Xechem International, its subsidiaries and its founder, northern India-born Ramesh Pandey.
Pandey is the founder, chairman and president of the G. D. Pandey Ayurvedic University, an organisation investigating India's traditional medicine which he set up in 2001. The organisation is based in the New Brunswick Technology Center in New Jersey in the United States — the same site that has housed the offices of Xechem.
Pandey founded Xechem International Inc. in the United States in 1994. By 2002, he was in an arrangement with the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu in India for a Xechem factory to produce the anti-cancer compound paclitaxel in India, a deal that appeared to fall through.
He founded Xechem Pharmaceuticals Nigeria in 2003, primarily to develop Nicosan. But in July 2007, Pandey was forced out as a member of Xechem Nigeria's board of directors. And on 7 December 2007, Xechem International announced in a press release that Pandey had been replaced as chairman and chief executive officer of the company, although he remains a member of the board of Xechem International.
At the same time, Xechem International announced a cost-cutting plan to "increase the focus on its Nigerian operations". This would see the closure of the company's US headquarters, with a move to smaller facilities in the United States.
American biochemist and banker Robert Swift, who joined the board in May 2007 and succeeded Pandey as chief executive three months later, said in the press release that, "The Board feels that all available resources must be focused on production of Nicosan at our Nigerian operation".
Xechem confirmed the downsizing in a statement on 4 June 2008. The company maintains an office in New Jersey with three full time employees, two employees at Rutgers University in New Jersey and "several people part time". Xechem is currently utilising laboratories at Rutgers for the further development of Nicosan, as well as another sickle cell treatment, 5HMF.
The statement also points to the transfer of laboratory equipment worth over US$2 million from its US premises to Xechem Nigeria.
'False blame'
According to Pandey, his removal from the Xechem International board was the result of false accusations over misappropriated funds. He claims that the move was brought about by some recent investors in Xechem and members of the Xechem Nigeria board, who "falsely blamed" him for misappropriating funds at Xechem Nigeria.
"It is unfortunate that some of the old board members and the people whom I brought in [to] Xechem Nigeria were also part of this coup. They thought that since the drug is already standardised and ready to be launched, why do we need to keep Dr. Pandey in the company and share the reward," Pandey told SciDev.Net.
But according to Xechem Nigeria's Oniyide, there are questions over the use of the Nigerian and American loans Pandey obtained to build the drug production factory in Nigeria.
Oniyide claims that the Nexim and UPS loans were instead used to establish a parallel facility in India to produce Nicosan.
According to documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in February this year by Swift, in his capacity as Xechem's chief foresight officer, Xechem's financial statements from 2002 to 2007 "may be inaccurate due to unrecorded financial issues related to Xechem (India)" as no documents tracing ownership could be found and loans from Xechem International to an Indian company have not been properly accounted for.
"It should be noted that the company has not engaged in any active operations of the [Indian] subsidiary since Dr. Pandey's departure as CEO", the report to the SEC says. The report also says Xechem International has proceeded to litigation in India against Pandey and others named as shareholders of Xechem India.
According to Oniyide, Xechem is taking court action because the Indian subsidiary was registered under Pandey's own name.
A second SEC document from a few days later (27 February 2008), also signed by Swift, states that Xechem International is "in default on its Debentures with Investors" totalling US$7 million and "cannot determine now whether it will be able to cure any or all of the defaults" as the company "does not have funds or revenues sufficient".
Pandey denies rerouting funds, saying the loans from Nexim were used for the "construction of the buildings and purchase of some equipment" for a commercial-scale production facility at SHESTCO in Nigeria, with extra equipment purchased using the US loans.
Nicosan rolls on
Meanwhile, Oniyide says Xechem International can no longer raise funds in the United States as investors have suspicions about the company.
He adds that Xechem Nigeria currently lacks the resources to scale up operations, although he says the company continues to produce 10,000–15,000 capsules a day from limited facilities installed by Pandey at SHESTCO.
Stephen Burg, director at Xechem International, confirmed with SciDev.Net that Nicosan is still available on the Nigerian market. He said production at the Xechem facility at SHESTCO near Abuja remains small-scale but that they were meeting demand, although he would not confirm the volumes being produced.
According to a Xechem International press statement (4 June 2008), Xechem Nigeria is currently able to produce about 50 million Naira (US$420,000) of Nicosan a month. According to the statement, Nicosan shipped to three out of the 36 Nigerian states (Niger, Nassarawa and Ondo) in 2008, generating revenue of around $350,000, which Xechem Nigeria say is enough support day to day operations but not to service any of its debt to Xechem International, Nexim or UPS.
The statement says that Nicosan Xechem Nigeria currently employs around 90 people and has made "improvements" to the Nicosan production pricess, allowing it to "support a greater number of regular customers" than in 2007.
Xechem Nigeria is currently able to produce about 50 million Naira (US$420,000) of Nicosan a month
Flickr/quiquemendizabal
Burg confirmed that Pandey is still a member of the Xechem International board as an "outside director" with no direct influence on the day-to-day running of the company. Athough Burg says Pandey still participates in board meetings, he could not confirm when Pandey last attended a Xechem meeting.
Burg says that due to ongoing legal cases, he cannot reveal further details of Xechem International, its subsidiaries or the court action taking place in India.
Xechem International's statement of 4 June 2008 confirmed that the company is still involved in several lawsuits, including that with Pandey, and "still in settlement discussions in India with respect to stock ownership of Xechem India".
Xechem say they have developed a tablet form of Nicosan for sale in the United States, and identified a US manufacturing facility for production. It expects the drug to be on the market later in 2008, "if there is sufficient working capital".
However, the statement confirms that Xechem International is still experiencing debt problems and "difficulty in raising working capital necessary to run its operations". The company estimates it needs "up to an additional US$1million to continue operations in 2008" and holds debts of over US$14 million. The statement also reveals that Swift has lent two sums of US$28,676 and US$118,255 of his own money to Xechem.
The company warns that there is a "substantial risk that Xechem International will not be able to obtain sufficient proceeds from capital raising efforts or other sources to enable it to continue to operate" and that it may need court protection from creditors if it is unable to raise additional capital "in the very near future". Bankruptcy is mentioned as a possible option.
The statement also advises that the SEC, in a letter dated 30 May 2008, has threatened to deregister Xechem from the stock market if it is unable to meet its public filing requirements.
Additional reporting by David Dickson and Mun-Keat Looi
Suppose even bad press is better than no press? While this article appears reasonably well written in it's attempt to chronicle a story for interesting reading, as we well know, it only scratches at the surface of what has and is going on with Xechem imo.
From my perspective it does not offer anything by way of solutions. Granted though is that they are a 'news reporting agency' while what we need for Xechem is mediation, both private and public - also imo.
Thanks for posting the link.
I can duplicate the same effect without the 60hrs of slaving...
I just stare at the current pps and blink twice!
Pardon the delerium.
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
ummm, hope the party is still going in November when I come through to stay in your treehouse
oh, dang, seems I got a branch in my eye climbing...
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
...not really Raven... only $9k these days lol
Any kind of positive news involving Pandey and this company could bring on a few hundred million volume quite easily we might think... still several weeks away (if at all) imo ... sure hope he/they can pull it off for the benefit of oh so many!
what the heck happened today? That's a lot of volume!
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
I imagine a lot of us are lurking here... biding time...
since we are already in the sub-basement, can't go much lower - so only changes will be to lock the doors or co-operate imo
YEAAAaaaaaah, I'm not giving up. :)~ the only thing to give up here is the current management imo
ha ha, yes, welcome to the club... got a (partial) fill for a buck once on our Xechem, and with the commission ended up paying a price closer to Lochute's prediction of a dollar a share - you got me beat by miles lol
If we don't close the shop here (office already closed?) we could be in for one heck of a run in a few months or so imo.
Was this an All or None order or would it have allowed partial fills?
Point taken... and I still have all my 10M shares. However it is not a pop I am looking for... more like a full recovery! I rate the possibility at perhaps 5%, but that is enough to get me to buy a few more shares next week if we remain in this pps area...
Well the challenge of getting Dr. Pandey back at the helm is fraught with obstacles. Plenty of evidence suggests that it is already too late for such a manouver. But that's just it, only suggests. Facts are we don't know. Biggs must be convinced to vote in favor of the switch and acceptance of the "Plan" and then also to stay on and work in turning this tanker around.
Burg also needs to be convinced that the return of Dr. Pandey and his "Plan" is in the best interest of those suffering from the lack of Nicosan, the best interest in the suvival of Xechem as the vehicle to provide Nicosan, a consideration of the long history he has with the man, and perhaps even in the best interest of his own health.
I do not know what the "Plan" is beyond the return of Dr. Pandey in a position to effect the infusion of some cash and defusion of debtors, attackers, sharks and those whose interest lies not in the success of the company or it's product. imo.
I will attend. Can we rent a PPG and bungie jump from the passenger seat?
Cool, where can I buy one? Seriously, did you make more than one and would you part with a set? I sure would like to - or send me the logos? and I will have my own made?
Just something to show for my $160k loss here, and to remind me - daily - that I believe in the ability of Nicosan to be all it can for those who need it.
The return of Dr. Pandey would be good for a penny increase... maybe more imo. It is not an impossible consideration - also imo.
Not exactly what we were hoping for...
... the next week's 'report'
Cure for sickle cell disease close at hand
updated: Thursday 12-06-2008
Not too long ago I met a young lady whose first name was “Evidence.” I told her I could tell the story behind her name. There was a sceptical look on her face. “You are the first child of your parents and came after a long wait. Relatives and friends must have prevailed on your father to take another wife because they thought your mother was barren but he refused.
Your birth was the ‘evidence’ that your mother was not barren.” I said. “You are correct sir,” she replied, “and my mother went on to add seven more children after me!” Then I predicted, “a lawyer will soon take Evidence to the altar.” Several years later, I ran into her again. She was married to a lawyer.
Among the Yoruba, names have great meaning and significance. A typical Yoruba name tells a story. It may be about an event related to birth, such as Ige, Aina, Ojo, Ajayi or Abiona. It may be about the family’s religion—Fatimehin, Fawole, Fasola or Fasina all referring to the IFA deity.
Oguntimehin, Ogunwole, Ogunsola and Ogunsina refer to the Ogun deity. The name could refer to royalty such as Adetimehin, Adewole, Adesola or Adesina. Sometimes a name may refer to the father’s occupation, often starting as a nickname and becoming a real name such as “Jakande”, “Agbede.” Yoruba names may also tell stories of family tribulations. Thus we can glean from Yoruba names evidence of high childhood mortality (Abiku) in the past. Now we know that one of the major causes of childhood mortality was sickle cell disease. Thus there are numerous names signifying the sufferings and tribulations of parents and families as a consequence of this scourge. Hence names like Kokumo, meaning “this one will not die” Durojaiye means wait and “chop” life.
Baiyese, Yemitan, Kukoyi and Durowoju are all a reflection of this scourge. Now a new technique called Gene Therapy is on its way to bringing relief to the sufferers of sickle cell disease. There is hope for mothers having sleepless nights on account of their children in sickle cell crises. There is real hope that Kokumo will not die young and Durojaiye will live and enjoy life to a ripe old age.
The gene is the fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. Gene therapy is a technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. There are three approaches to gene therapy. The first is to replace a bad gene that is causing disease with a healthy copy of the gene. The second approach is to inactivate or “knock out,” a bad gene that is malfunctioning. The third method is to introduce a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.
On 27th April 2008, the New England Journal of Medicine published the first results of a trial which showed that gene therapy can be safe and can improve sight. This phenomenal breakthrough involved inserting healthy copies of the retina pigment epithelium (RPE65) gene into the cells of the retina of two patients with abnormal retina to help them to function normally. The findings are a landmark for gene therapy technology and could have a significant impact on future treatment of eye disease.
Then on May 29, 2008 scientists from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reported that they’ve made stem cells from cells obtained from sickle cell patients (that is cells with sickle cell-causing gene). A stem cell is a cell whose job in the body is not yet determined. Every single cell in the body “stems”from this type of cell. Stem cells wait for signals to tell them what specialized cells to become - such as skin, blood, muscle, and nerve cells. The stem cells generated by these scientists may be useful for screening drugs, to understand the pathology of sickle cell disease and in the long run to correct the abnormal gene through gene therapy. Just like my prediction for Miss Evidence, it is just a couple of years away!
http://www.tribune.com.ng/16062008/thr/You&Eye.html
Washington University recognizes world sickle cell expert
Thursday, June 12, 2008 8:19 AM CDT
DeBaun with endowed chair
By Sandra Jordan Of the St. Louis American
St. Louis native Michael R. DeBaun, M.D., M.P.H., a renowned physician at Children’s Hospital St. Louis, was recently named the first Ferring Family Chair in Pediatric Cancer and Related Disorders at Washington University School of Medicine.
The $18.5 million study is evaluating 1,800 children in the United States, Canada and Europe to determine the effectiveness of blood transfusion therapy to prevent silent strokes.
Following his recent recognition as an endowed chair, DeBaun presented an overview of the research he is conducting on silent strokes in children with sickle cell anemia - his latest contribution to a medical field that, as Schwartz said, DeBaun has come to dominate.
DeBaun said the study should reveal “what risk factors may be associated with strokes and gray failure” (poor academic attainment).
DeBaun specializes in sickle cell disease, overgrowth cancer predisposition syndromes and public health issues. He is a professor of pediatrics, biostatistics and neurology, and directs the Sickle Cell Medical Treatment and Education Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital. He is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology.
It is indeed a new/updated item, however it is remaining obvious that Professor Olufemi Akinyanju of the Nigeria Sickle Cell Foundation remains a backer of Ciklavit although he does appear to disguise his support. This could be for any number of reasons, however the result is Nicosan is only mentioned in a negative light, furthering the damage already done. Still, there is a positive in this article in that there may be independent testing. Unfortunately, with the leaning toward Ciklavit I would imagine the results could be suspect imo.
"There is none of them that has been found useful. This why this committee is here to really look at various areas - the drugs, the real test needed, the proofs needed - before they get registration and so on. As far as I know, none of them has been found beneficial. But with a committee like this, it is one of the tasks we have set for ourselves to do".
He faulted the clinical trials that some of the local sickle cell drugs had gone through and said the panel would conduct independent clinical trials on them. "But those are the decisions we have to take; which of them should we start on? Many trials like Niprosan have been done by people who are interested in them."
Thanks for posting this.
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
It would seem (by accounts reported last year) that Biggs would not be difficult to sway, no?
by board members I mean Steve Burg and Martin Biggs, I dont' see Dr. Swift voting for a change...
Thank You for this post. eom
I am a bit more interested in what this certain obligation is that just had to be paid (vs all the other bills that did not receive this alleviation)...
...to secure a certain obligation of the Company
GOOD NEWS FOR SICKLE CELL PATIENTS
Thur. 5th June, 2008
Before now “siddon look” was the treatment for blood in the vitreous. This meant waiting for nature to gradually remove the blood. Unfortunately other bleeds could occur in the interval and when the capacity of the natural processes to clear the mess is overwhelmed, an irreversible blindness occurs. Now it is possible to remove the blood by a surgical operation called vitrectomy. So far there is no permanent cure for sickle cell disease but reprieve is on its way for sickle cell sufferers. Watch out for the latest development in this field next week.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/05062008/You&Eye.html
President Yar’Adua urges self sufficiency in drug production
Jun 3, 2008, 15:26
(oops, sorry, posted the following as a reply to hinch...
Oh, I think we noticed, but were overly excited about the PR and the various good news it does contain imo... Still, thanks for monitoring and posting this (again lol) )
President Umar Musa Yar'Adua has stated that for Nigeria to attain self sufficiency in drug production, generate employment and achieve vision 20-2020, indigenous pharmaceutical firms must expand their manufacturing capacity.
The President who was speaking through the Acting Minister of Health, Dr. Hassan Lawal at the Pharma West Africa 2008 - 1st International Pharmaceutical Exhibition and Conference - held in Abuja on Tuesday March 3rd, said indigenous drug manufacturers must not only ensure that 70 percent of the country's drug needs were met locally but that the drugs so produced met international standards.
He noted that increased participation of Nigerian companies in the pharmaceutical sector hitherto dominated by multinationals was a positive development and a clear indication of the country's drive towards industrialisation adding that, Federal Government's policy of placing essential drugs on the Import Prohibition List was to discourage importation of essential drugs, curtail importation of substandard drugs and stimulate local production in the sector.
http://www.nigeriafirst.org/article_8259.shtml
Oh, I think we noticed, but were overly excited about the PR and the various good news it does contain imo... Still, thanks for monitoring and posting this (again lol)
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
Hey, I really like seeing this! Xechem is right at the door on this one and some concrete direction from the FDA will help to solidify the plan for our X. While this could go either way I suppose, it will put some light on it, and if the FDA is easing into the new direction (as also Raven has been suggesting) this could be very good news imo.
No question in my mind that today's PR is the result of the shareholder push. We now have some more things to work with imo. Well done, us!
This one belongs to our Raven...
NicosanForSickleCell@yahoo.com
tuvm eom
Significant find imo 'clrmng' thanks! It would appear there is intent to restore the full complement of BOD for XIntl. Also seems like an excellent choice imo.
In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees for Oberlin College, Lomotey is a member of the board of directors for Xechem International Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that researches, develops and produces generic and proprietary drugs from natural resources.
"The Nicosan train is leaving the station and you had better get on board"
-- Iretiolu Oniyide
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for"
-- John Lubbock
Excellent expression as always Raven! Many thanks! eom
indeed... suspect it might be rumor before the news
June 2nd is next Monday, it will be interesting to see what will cause the run, and when it will begin.
President Umaru Yar’Adua, yesterday in Benin disclosed that efforts were being put in place by his administration to ensure that deaths through maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS were reduced to the barest minimum by 2015.
HIV/AIDS 'll be reduced to barest minimum by 2015 —Yar'Adua
Written by Gabriel Enogholase
Friday, 23 May 2008
Besides, he said that frantic efforts were being made by his government to ensure that women, children and persons with disability who constitutes over 70 percent of the country’s population get the attention they required.
The President who was represented at the commissioning of the permanent site of the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC), by the Minister of Women affairs and National Development, Hajia Sadatu Usman Bugundu, expressed his belief that a healthy family was a productive nation, saying that as a result of this, his administration has been subsidizing the National Insurance Health Scheme (NIHS) and the Primary Health Care (PHC).
He commended WHARC led by Professor Friday Okonofua for its endeavours and foresight in coming out with the gigantic project, which comprise two blocks of buildings.
In his address, Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor said that the issue of women’s health was one of the issues that is at the front burner of health delivery of both the federal and Edo State Government’s Health programme.
He said Nigeria’s rating, as the second country with the highest maternal mortality in the world was unacceptable, urging something must be done quickly to reverse the situation.
The Governor said the state government would identify with and support the WHARC, and therefore requested the center to forward to the Government, a proposal which would be favourably considered.
In his speech, WHARC’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Abel Guobadia disclosed that the Centre had remained true and faithful to its mission of promoting the health and social well-being of African women through systematic research, dissemination, advocacy and training in reproductive health.
A Non-Governmental Organisation, WHARC, commenced operation in 1995 initial financial grants from Ford Foundation and other donors, which have continued to support the center.
Highlight of the ceremony was the commissioning of the two buildings and naming them after Dr. Natalia Kanem, President of ELMA philanthropies, United States of America and Dr. Abel Guobadia.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8794&Itemid=42
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FG recovers N360bn unspent budget from ministries
Written by Omoh Gabriel, Business Editor
Friday, 23 May 2008
THE Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Mr Taminu Yakubu, announced yesterday the recovery by the Federal Government of N300 billion unspent capital budget from ministries, departments and agencies in 2007.
He said in the case of the recurrent, already N60 billion had been recovered.
Mr. Tanimu said more unspent budget money might be recovered and that about N400 billion was expected at the end of the exercise.
He said the Federal Government had underestimated the problem on ground and on assumption of office saw that it was far better to access the situation before moving forward.
As a result, the Administration spent much of its early life accessing what it inherited from the last administration.
Government, he stressed, was now at the point of taking a decision on power and other components of the president’s seven-point agenda.
He said many of the projects embarked upon by the last administration had no feasibility study, engineering design, scope of work to be done.
He equally said government embarked on spending without management capability and this needed assessment.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8799&Itemid=42
I suspect that at the best of times (i.e. when 'fully staffed') there are only three in the office - Barb, Ben & Robbie, so, yeah... lol