Xechem International Inc. (fka XKEM)

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Not sure if posted.

Report from Sickle Cell Disease Association of America's 34th Annual Convention

by lukiah and abudallah mulumba, founders, uganda-american sickle cell rescue fund (october, 2006)


The 34th Annual Convention of sickle cell organized by the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America ended on Saturday September, 31st 2006 on a promising note. The convention which started on the 27th of September drew thousands of member organizations from across the United States, leading researchers in the sickle cell disease and physicians plus professors from across the world. Many stake holders from all over the world such as India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Mali also attended. The convention was held at Hyatt Regency Dallas Reunion, Texas.


Nigerian experience
We were so thrilled about the support from our sister countries Nigeria and Ghana in relation to the struggle of sickle cell disease in Africa. Doctor Ramesh C. Pandey of Xechem, Inc, New Brunswick, New Jersey, presented about the new anti-sickling natural herbal drug Nicosan / Hemoxintm in Nigeria. Various basic and clinical studies of Nicosan formerly known as Niprisan have been performed over the past 10 years in Nigeria at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and for over five years at several laboratories in the United States. Dr. Pandey was hired directly from the United States by the Nigerian government to take part in this research. He has been involved in research of this drug for a period of over five years. Nicosan is an extract of four plants which has been used by traditional health providers in Nigeria.
Phase I/II clinical trials showed a decrease in the frequency of painful episodes and an increase in school attendance of people with sickle cell disease. Laboratory work carried out at the NIH NHLBI Sickle Cell Disease Reference Laboratory at The children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in United States (SCDRL-CHOP) showed that NICOSAN has strong anti-sickling effect. Their studies in vivo using transgenic sickle mice that express human sickle cell hemoglobin showed that NICOSAN not only decreased the formation of sickled cells in blood, but also prolonged the survival period of mice that had been exposed to severe hypoxia (5% oxygen / 95% nitrogen). Other studies performed at Xechem Laboratories in New Brunswick, New Jersey in United States and Xechem Nigeria in conjunction with SCDRL-CHOP have shown that NICOSAN contains various aromatic aldehydes that combine with sickle hemoglobin and inhibit sickling erythrocytes at very low concentrations. Further studies showed that NICOSAN contains chemicals that inhibit cell sickling by hydrating sickle erythrocytes. According to Doctor Pandey, NICOSAN is a new effective anti-sickling natural herbal drug available in Nigeria. The studies conducted in Nigeria, will be repeated in the United States so that it can be available over the counter by patients of sickle cell disease. We are very happy for Nigerians. Some patients/parents etc have been contacting loved ones in Nigeria to send them NICOSAN to United States.