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It was an irony of sorts that while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was announcing a ban on three pharmaceutical firms over codeine-containing syrup on Tuesday, an Anambra State-based drug maker, Juhel Nigeria, was getting set to unveil its new Oxytocin injection for pregnant women, the first of its kind in Africa.
Juhel’s injection, unveiled on Wednesday in Lagos, was manufactured in collaboration with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). It has the capacity to reduce after-birth bleeding and maternal deaths, estimated at 58, 000 each year.
The drug was hitherto imported from outside Africa but is now locally manufactured in Awka, Anambra State, Ifeanyi Okoye, CEO of Juhel Nigeria Limited, said.
“We have the capacity to produce enough Oxytocin that will serve the rest of sub-Saharan Africa,” Okoye said.
“USP for two years collaborated with Juhel Nigeria Limited towards the production of maternal commodities –Magnesium sulphate and Oxytocin injection,” Okoye said, adding that his firm is one of the three drug makers in the country to have ‘Blow Fill Seal’ (BFS) machines, which can do the multiple task of blowing the bottle, filling it with polyethylene and then moving it to the conveyor belt to seal.
“We are conserving our foreign exchange because we are no longer going to import Oxytocin. Secondly, the cost of these drug is much cheaper than its imported counterpart,” Frank Jacobs, president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said.
Juhel is not the only firm innovating new products.
Drugfield Pharmaceuticals Limited has come up with Chlorhexidine gel, which caters for the umbilical cord. It is one of the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s requirements for child care.
Similarly, SKG Pharma has locally produced Amino Acid and Vitamins, first in Africa. Moreover, Daily Need Industries has produced Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablets (DT), used for the cure of Pneumonia. May &Baker entered into a joint venture project with Federal Government to produce vaccines locally. Gloria Elemo, director-general and chief executive officer of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), told BusinessDay that FIIRO has entered into an understanding with May &Baker for the commercialisation of a sickle cell supplement produced by the institute.
“There are also new facilities and investments going on in the industry,” Okey Akpa, chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) told BusinessDay.
Nigeria’s drug makers have invested N300 to N500 billion locally in new plants, vehicles, buildings and personnel.
They share 35 percent of the African drug market and over 70 percent of the West African market, according to PMG-MAN.
Out of over 100 drugs firms, only nine are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange- Neimeth, Neros, Emzor, May & Baker Nigeria, Fidson, Drugfield, Nigerian German Chemical Plc (NGC), Novartis and GSK.
Swiss Pharma, Evans Medicals, Chi Pharmaceuticals as well as May &Baker have obtained the WHO prequalification, which enables them to participate in international drug supplies. Also, Juhel, Fidson, Drugfield, and SKG Pharma, among others, are ramping up investments to obtain this certification. Fidson completed its N9 billion manufacturing plant in Ogun State in 2016 and the majority of players have relocated their plants to Ogun on back of friendlier business environment.
Juhel Pharmaceuticals, Pharmatex Nigeria Limited, May & Baker and Chi Pharmaceuticals Limited are also exporting drugs to West Africa.
The industry is still reeling under the yoke of codeine ban, with the factories of Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Limited, Peace Standard Pharmaceuticals Limited and Bioraj Pharmaceuticals Limited under lock and key.
The Nigerian senate in October 2017 estimated that about 3 million bottles of codeine is consumed daily in Kano and Jigawa States alone. Millions of bottles are consumed all over the country which is rising to epidemic proportions with grave consequences for the youths.
ODINAKA ANUDU
