The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Professor Ernest Izevbigie, has announced a major breakthrough in the management of cancer, diabetes and prostate enlargement, with the announcement of a new drug for the treatment of the ailments.
He made the announcement at a press briefing organised by the University to announce the successful development of the medicines named Edotide. Izevbigie said the medicines, which are nature-based, have little or no toxicity, as is usually found in such drugs.
Prof. Izevbigie stated that the medicines which were made from the bitter-leaf (vernonia amygdalina), have been certified by the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and have been internationally accepted, as the National Academy of Inventors (NIA), based in United States of America, has endorsed it.
“We started out in 2000 making initial observation. In 2001, we applied for provisional patent, and after one year we were assigned to a patent officer, and we were awarded patent in 2003. In 2005, we isolated two other products, and had to get patents for each.
“The patent gives us 18 years sole ownership. After three years, we came up with the right formulation to venture into commercial manufacturing. From 2008, we went into the market. So we have been on ground in Nigeria for 13 years, and 8 in the United States,”
Prof. Izevbigie also disclosed that he received two U.S. patents for Edotide in 2009 for the treatment of cancer and diabetes, adding that Edotide can suppress, kill, or delay cancerous cells, and it reduces blood glucose by 50% in mammals.