ABUAD gets NAFDAC nod for mass production of COVID-19 herbal drug

By POPOOLA YAQOUB

The anti viral herbal drug developed by the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti(ABUAD) has been licensed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for mass production.

A statement issued by ABUAD’s Director, Corporate Services, Tunde Olofintila, on Sunday, described ABUAD Herbal Virucidine Liquid as an immune booster and antioxidant for CoronaVirus and other Viral infections which can also be used as an anti-inflammatory agent.

The approval was conveyed in a letter dated December 17, 2021, with Index Number 210819, Serial Number 0000177510 and NAFDAC Listing Number A7-100180L signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola C. Adeyeye.

It said: “the medicine is a product which has been conscientiously produced and packaged in 100-ml bottles with an instructional leaflet and dosage measurement cup.

“With this achievement, ABUAD has joined researchers in some foreign universities which have been making efforts to produce anti-viral medications for the treatment of Covid-19.

“Besides, ABUAD has further confirmed its frontline position in quality teaching, impactful research and community service. It has also demonstrated to the world that the solutions to the ravaging Covid-19 may not be far-fetched after all, but could indeed be found by African Scientists.

Commenting on the development, the Founder and Chancellor of the University, Chief Afe Babalola(SAN), said the University was founded on three pillars of quality and functional education, research and community service in order to reform education and revive research in Nigerian Universities.

Babalola pointed out that the research breakthrough on Herbal Medicine has been made possible by the unparalleled assemblage of quality and sophisticated equipment and infrastructure in the university.

The University’s Chief Pharmacist, Mrs. Toyin Afolabi, expressed gratitude to stakeholders like the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the parents, the committed and dedicated teachers and students the combined efforts of who made the university what it is today.

With this achievement, the Chief Medical Director of ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, appealed to Industries in Nigeria to reach out to and partner with ABUAD in research and investment in products and services which will enhance the quality of their products and quality of life of humanity.

Ogundipe advised prospective Marketers of ABUAD Herbal Virucidine Liquid to start filing their Applications with the Pharmacy Department, ABUAD Multi-System Hospital, Km. 8.5, Afe Babalola University LTD/GTE, the Manufacturer.

He equally appealed to prospective Marketers to be patient until the Herbal Factory located in the University’s 121-unit Research Industrial Park will be completed in February 2022. (Sunday Independent)