National Biotechnology Development Agency Archives

The Director General, National Biotechnology Development Agency, (NABDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha has said the agency has identified three repurposed drugs to mitigate the effect of Lassa Fever in Nigeria.

Abdullahi while speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the Planning Meeting on Drug Repurposing and Repositioning: Challenges and Opportunities for Lassa Fever Treatment” noted that the move is NABDA’s contribution to mitigating Lassa fever pandemic considering the yearly increased cases recorded in the country.

According to Abdullahi, the repurposed drugs has been certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will still be subjected to the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders for approval

“NABDA has begun this research to find a drug that is suitable, affordable with no side effects, NABDA has come up with a drug for this purpose so at this meeting it will be discussed and the process of putting it under clinical trial.

“The repurposed drug is going to be submitted to the FMoH and stakeholders to see how it is going to be tried.

“Lassa fever has been for over 30 years and we think it is time we come up with solution, then go to the drawing board to synthesize a drug for the purpose”.

NABDA Top Official Commits Suicide After EFCC Invitation

The Director, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics, (NABDA), Oyekanmi Nash described Lassa Fever as an orphan disease due lack of commitment to administer a cure but with science, drugs has been repurposed to mitigate its effect.

Nash Explained that out of 8000 FDA approved drugs, NABDA has identified 3 potential candidates, one of them is very superior and all are being introduced at the meeting for federal ministry of health and other stakeholders to approve.

These identified drugs are already in the market for other purpose but we have repurposed them, we have already seen that it is going to work”.

“This is a good news coming from NABDA, so we have called various stakeholders here, the drug has been approved for use by FDA so what we are going to do is to seat with stakeholders to know the dose for use”.

A top Government Official from the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) has reportedly committed suicide after EFCC invitation.

Reports revealed that Mr. Christopher Orji who was an Assistant Director of the agency reportedly committed suicide in Abuja.

It was gathered that Orji’s lifeless body was reportedly found dangling with a rope tied to a ceiling fan at his residence at Federal Housing Authority Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, at about 4pm on August 30.

Sources within NABDA told Daily Trust that police homicide detectives were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 59-year-old Orji.

Reports said he had been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to report at its Abuja office on the day he was found dead.

However, one of the staff of the agency, who pleaded anonymity, said Orji could not have killed himself as no suicide note was found at his residence.

When contacted, NABDA’s Acting Head of Communications and Protocol, Nkiru Amakeze, declined the comment.

“So, what do you want me to tell you now? Please, I can’t speak on it,” Amakaeze replied.