Anti-Ebola Drug Found In Anambra

The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr
Uzochukwu Ikemefuna, says that some Nigerian
researchers are about to harvest anti-Ebola disease
drug.
Ikemefuna made the disclosure at the maiden
Research Fair and Luncheon of the institution's
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at its campus in
Agulu, Anaocha local council area of Anambra on
Friday.
He explained that the anti-Ebola drug discovery was
hinged on two new drug design approaches namely
Computer Aided Drug Design (CADD) and Drug
Repurposing (DR).
"These two approaches are being leveraged upon to
cut down the cost and time required for drug
discovery and development.
"We have identified seven approved drugs with
concurrent strong binding affinities for all the four
tested Ebola viral protein targets," Ikemefuna, who is
heading the research group, said.
He however, said that the research was being
hindered by N25 million funds to complete phases
two and three of the project and appealed to
international and local donors to come to its
assistance.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.
Joseph Ahaneku tasked researchers to translate their
research findings into tangible products to benefit
citizens of the country.
The vice chancellor, who was represented by the
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Charles
Esimone, said that there was the need for
researchers to partner with investors for practical
impact.
"Without partnership, no research effort will make
practical impact. Industrialists should partner and
invest in research findings especially on Ebola Virus
Disease and other diseases ravaging Africa,"
Ahaneku stated.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Josephat
Akabuike, said that government was determined to
provide quality health delivery to the people and had
established a Central Drug Facility for the purpose.
The commissioner said that the facility was
established to control drug movement and prevent
spread of sub-standard drugs in the state.
Akabuike appealed to stakeholders in the drug
business to collaborate with the state government in
bringing drug counterfeiting to a halt in the state.

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