Prof. Francis Otunta, the Vice Chancellor (VC), Michael
Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, in Abia, has
confirmed the discovery of a new drug for the treatment
and cure of HIV/AIDS.
Otunta told newsmen at the university campus on
Wednesday that the finding followed years of scientific
research by the institution.
He said that the breakthrough was made by Prof.
Maduike Ezeibe, a researcher in the university.
According to him, Ezeibe had presented the drug to the
University management, Senate and Council, where he
explained the processes he went through to arrive at his
finding.
Minister of Health, Prof Issac Adewole during his HIV
test.
The VC also said that Ezeibe had equally presented the
drug to his colleagues in the medical field and nobody
had contradicted his finding.
“Prof. Ezeibe is a researcher in Veterinary Medicine and
one may wonder how he discovered a drug to cure a
human ailment,” he said.
He commended Ezeibe for the breakthrough, saying: “He
has brought honour to the University and we are proud of
him.”
Otunta said that the university was in the process of
mass producing the drug for further clinical trials on
persons living with HIV/AIDS in the country.
Ezeibe, who is a professor of Veterinary Medicine and
Clinical Virology, said that the drug was produced with
Aluminum Silicate and Magnesium Silicate (Synthetic
Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate).
He said that the two minerals “are already in use as
medicines for the treatment of various animal and human
diseases”.
He said that 10 persons living with the disease, “who
volunteered’’, were made to apply through their doctor to
the VC.
“They were treated daily with the Medicinal Synthetic
Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate (50 mg/kg),” he said.
Ezeibe said that the volunteers were subjected to monthly
tests for viral loads and CD4-lymphocyte counts.
“With the antiviral effects of the medicine, its ability to
reach all cells (as nanoparticles) and the lymphocytes,
there is no more hiding place (sanctuary) for HIV,” he
said.
He said that the medicine had been used to potentiate
Ampicilin, Chloroquine, Piperazine and Sulphadimidin,
among others, and could be a major foreign exchange
earner for Nigeria, if approved by relevant authorities.
According to him, “local and international pharmaceutical
companies would find the product as a veritable raw
material”.
Ezeibe said that he presented the research findings to the
World Virology Conference in Atlanta in 2015, and Antonio
(Texas) in 2016.
Besides, he said that the results of the laboratory tests
had been published in many international scientific
journals, including the British Journal of Medicine and
Medical Research, among several others.
He said that he was also about to sign a memorandum of
understanding with a U.S.-based Scientific Research
Publishing, publishers of World Journal of AIDS, for the
publication of his book “How I came about the cure for
HIV/AIDS”.
Ezeibe, who said that the medicine was patented in
August 2014 in Nigeria, called on the Federal Government
to help him to secure international patency for the drug.
He said: “If commercialised, the Medicinal Synthetic
Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate would become an
alternative for petroleum to the Nigerian economy.” source : http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/breakthrough-michael-okpara-varsity-discovers-cure-hivaids/