Our attention has been drawn to a recent media statement by Maduike Ezeibe, a Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Virology at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, claiming to have discovered a new drug for the cure of HIV/AIDS. An editorial in the newspaper “Leadership” (http://leadership.ng/opinions/569782/nigerian-scientist-conquers-hivaids), quoted the professor as saying that the drug, produced with “Aluminium Magnesium Silicate” was tested on ten persons living with HIV. The newspaper reported a clinical outcome of an ability to “reach all cells” and making HIV “a conquered organism”.
The claim for a HIV/AIDS cure is not new. It is also not new to find a scientist using ambiguous scientific methods and practices to buttress this claim, and to find obscure journals increasingly prepared to publish these claims. Following the discrediting of the claims of Dr Abalaka in the late nineties, we had also hoped that the Nigerian press would thoroughly investigate these “AIDS cure”, claims before going to press, given the huge impact that these could have on patients lives.
To examine the facts, this study was published in two little known, fee-charging ‘predatory’ journals and involved less than ten patients. In the “clinical trial” as reported, there was no evidence of the use of controls, which is the basis of all efficacy trials. Without controls, you can neither have randomisation nor blinding, two other critical factors in studying the effects of new medicines. Critically the primary outcome measured in this study was based on plasma viral load levels that are known to fluctuate in patients, even in the absence of any intervention. It is also worth noting that virological suppression (viral load less than 50 copies/ml) was not achieved in 6 of 8 patients. There appeared to be no medical doctor involved in the execution of this study and there was no evidence on where or how the patients were treated or monitored during this study, their clinical and treatment status at the beginning or at the end of it.
It is important to note that clinical trials are conducted in a series phases – each phase is designed to answer a separate research question. These include; 1.) Phase I: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety 2.) Phase II: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective 3.) Phase III: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, comparing it to commonly used treatments, and Phase IV: Studies are done to gather information on the drug’s effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use. The authors of this study did not state what phase their study was and the results of previous phases, if these were done.
One critical issue is that there was no evidence from the publication that the authors obtained ethical clearance from an appropriate body in Nigeria to conduct this study, and only ambiguous evidence that informed consent was sought from the evidently vulnerable patients.
There is really no basis for a claim to cure of AIDS in this study.
We are concerned that the publicity given to these claims will stop patients with HIV from taking life-saving antiretrovirals and give them false hope of a cure. It will be a great disservice to this vulnerable group of patients for the media to disseminate these claims in the absence of sound scientific evidence. There are long established, tried and tested routes for the discovery, development and validation of modern medicines before they can be registered and used for treatment in humans and animals. We call on all academics to follow legal and scientifically acceptable methods in conducting their research and to avoid making premature claims that are capable of derailing the huge progress made in the last two decades on the war against HIV/AIDS. Millions of lives have been saved as a result of modern antiretroviral treatment and people living with HIV can now look forward to a normal healthy future. We continue to support the hard and diligent work being done by scientists in our Universities and research institutions around the country. We are always ready to partner with our scientists on all aspects of HIV research provided this is in line with international best practice.
We call on editors of media houses in Nigeria to seek comments from the leadership of the relevant government parastatals and professional bodies when it receives new research findings related to our areas of responsibility. We assure you that we will respond rapidly and constructively to any queries. We also urge the editors of media houses in Nigeria to support their reporters to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in the clinical trial process. In the run up to the next deadline, it is easy to fall into the trap of doing more harm than good, and the consequences of this can be deadly in the health sector. We will support the evolution of robust science journalism in Nigeria.
We call on all patients living with HIV that are currently taking their medications to continue to do so and to see their doctors if they have any concern. The NACA helpline (6222) is available on working days from 8am-8pm for members of the public seeking more information on HIV disease.
Signed
Dr Sani Aliyu
Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA)
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu
CEO Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
The rejoinder from NACA has not told the public whether the cure claim is really true or false. Whether they made effort to trace and track down the acclaimed 10 patients and conducted test on them. Whether they themselves have tested the drug and find it ineffective or what effort they have down to encourage the Prof and the university to actualize their “claimed” for a Nigerian solution/cure to the problem.
All they have said is the western method of carrying out research and testing of drug were not followed and questioned whether a medical doctor was involved in the research. I think NACA should do more than what they have said here. The people producing and selling the anti -retroviral drugs to WHO which in turn donates or sell to the Nigerian Government for distribution will not want to see an African breakthrough as that will spoil their business. The people in NACA and the Federal Ministry of Health do not also want to see their grants stopped if actually a cure has been found for HIV/AIDS. Colonial mentality.
In as much as I encourage those on anti retroviral drugs to continue their medication until this is sorted out, tests and trials should continue to be down by the Professor of veterinary medicine or who ever the cure is divinely revealed to, to safe humanity from this man inflicted madness. The Medical doctors should also do their research or partner with those who are on it and not wait to be invited. Many breakthroughs in many fields were not achieved by professionals in those fields. I know of an elderly woman who gave a child some herbs to cure ringworm on the head that defied modern clinically tested medicine. The ringworm dried within 24hrs and the dry scales fell off after 3 or 4days. That child, now a man of 25 yrs has not experienced a relapsed. God help us all.
Please be guided, note that the release described international best practices. If the drugs from the western world as you said follow same convention and are adopted and distributed world wide for use, what stops the Nigerian drug from taking the same route? After all, we have seen drugs produced from diverse non-western world being used globally. So, for you to ascribe efficacy to a drug without due process appears at best suspicious so negates any further investigation. In as much as we clamor for acceptance and adoption of our indigenous products, due process must be followed.
There are so many health care services outfits in Nigeria for people to seek cure for their sickness whether clinically tested or not.Physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, social, moral or any form of belief play a vital role in treatment, prevention, cure or modifying the course of a disease..
Thank you Professor, any interested person or group can continue from where you stopped.
We heard so much of such argument and disclaiming.
The prof should be encouraged. Not everything good originates from west. Time for Africans to wake up and support our fellow African like prof ezeibe. As said prof is ready to follow whatever procedure required now why criticising him for what he had come up with. Support him and stop critisizing. Let him prove his findings.
Support him to prove his findings . How many breakthroughs have been pronounced by western doctors and all what is done is to support them, why not for african doctors? It is not a sin to pronounce what someone has discovered and he be taken from there to prove his findings according to laid down procedures.
A kenyan doctor pronounced his findings of a functunal cure using the current hiv pills,immune bosters and cancer drugs. He was rejected and turned down as a hoax. Few years later the western scientist came up with a finding called kick and kill in which they are using the same procedure and drugs and according to them it has proved to take the virus to remmission. All is good but my concerned is why the kenyan doctor was rejected by his people, time for we african to believe in ourselves as anything good can originate from us and sold in developed countries. Prof ezeibe should be listened, encouraged and suported.
I am totally disappointed by all ways of doing in all ramifications for the so called government officials of our dear state “Nigeria”. But permit me, to ask these questions:
How come about science’s?
Who trained and educated the first scientist?
How were people treated when medical doctors were not known?
Let us be found nature and believe in our selves as Africans and Nigerians in particular other than using white mentality to break down our black nature.
Nigerians are highly intellectual and property for development of the world. Support is our pledge.
I hereby, call on NACA and NCDC to see these organisations as an alternative to save lives order than making money.
A professor would not wish him self such a wonderful national disgrace. After nineteen years of research, support for this findings is what we are tasked with. However, He “Prof. Maduike Ezeibe ” must be right. Let us Support him to save lives.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing this wonderful article. It is very good information about some the curing of HIV/AIDS infection. It was very useful for many, including me to explore and gather the information about HIV/AIDS. It is a must-read blog to explore the new information about HIV infection curable medicines. Keep posting!!