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XKEM news
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/opinion/editorial/2006/may/25/editorial-25-05-2006-001.htm


The grant of N150 million facility by the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) to Xechem- a local drug maker, for the commercial production and marketing of NICOSAN, a new herbal drug for the management of sickle cell disorder, is certainly a milestone of sorts for the heath care sector.

Milestone because for million of sufferers of the Sickle Cell Disease as well as carriers of the gene, it is the long awaited succour for a genetic ailment most pronounced on the continent, and for once, Nigeria is leading the world in finding a cure for a scourge for which her own citizens have the highest population of sufferers, possibly in the world.

With many products of research endeavours lying on the shelves of research bodies waiting for commercial exploitation, it is heart-warming that the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Xechem and NEXIM, have combined to deliver to Nigerians, and indeed the global health community, this unique solution in the management of the sickle cell condition.

We certainly know that the bane of research undertakings in the country is the lack of critical linkage between research and the manufacturing and the financial services sector with the result that research breakthroughs do not get to the marketplace due to lack of entrepreneurial interest. It is noteworthy that the case of this sickle cell drug is a marked departure. We commend NIPRD, NEXIM and the drug firm, Xechem, for this timely and exemplary collaboration; it is an affirmation of the unlimited possibilities in the Nigerian environment, giving the right kind of incentives.


What the development underscores is the need to encourage more indigenous drug firms to collaborate with the research institutes to deliver more gains to the Nigerian people in the area of development and commercialisation of findings. It is certainly not good enough that local drug firms have consigned themselves to being trading outposts for imported drugs with little or no local value added; even local raw materials, where available, are begging to be exploited for commercial use simply because imported substitutes are preferred.

We think that a package of incentives for drug manufacturing firms willing to undertake such ventures make eminent sense if the government is truly desirous of getting these firms to play the desired role of creating jobs and providing solutions to the health care services needs of the nation.

The NIPRD breakthrough in the sickle cell drug should be an eye opener on the need to equip, upgrade and fund our research institutes to enable them play their assigned roles in national development. Leaving them perennially in the throes of budgetary shortfalls is hardly the way to help them play these roles.

On their own part, the institutes themselves should explore opportunities for collaborative efforts with industry to attract funds and to ensure that important findings are not left to rot on the shelves. Now that NEXIM has shown the way in providing venture capital for the sickle cell drug, it behoves other financial institutions to support similar initiatives.