Nigeria spends N78.5bn per annum to import insulin

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Nigeria spends about $500m (about N78.5bn) every year on the importation of insulin, Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof. Bamidele Solomon, has said.

Solomon, who said this at NABDA roundtable on Biosimilars: Framework for Affordable Biologic Drugs in Africa, in Abuja, also disclosed that the agency was collaborating with international agencies and the local pharmaceutical industry for its local manufacture.

Insulin is used in the management of diabetic patients and Solomon said the number had been rising in the country in recent years.

The intervention of NABDA has seen to the creation of new curriculum for pharmacy students in all the pharmaceutical schools in the country in collaboration with the National Universities Commission and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria.

The new curriculum is meant to address the inadequate capacity in pharmacy graduates, especially in biopharmaceuticals, which uses biotechnology and genetic engineering methodology.

Solomon identified the pharmaceutical companies that are involved in the project as Chi Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited and Neimeth.

He said, “The agency has been working to see that we get something similar to what happens in India where various generic products are developed and produced. We have been working with NUC to get a curriculum that can address the necessary manpower.

“We are working with international bodies that could link us up with and provide us with the intellectual property, that give us royalty free access to some of these drugs. That is the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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