DETAILS: Leaked Covidex herbal medicine formula funded by World Bank loan, true owner revealed

The development process of the Covidex herbal medicine that Uganda hopes to use to treat Covid19 had been funded by a loan from the World Bank, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Must) Vice Chancellor Prof Celestino Obua has revealed.

As hosts of the Pham Biotechnology and Traditional Mediciane Centre(PHARMBIOTRAC), one of the Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centre for Excellence in Uganda, Must developed the herbal medicine with full support from Government of Uganda.

The Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni administration secured a World Bank loan to develop the drug.

Must’s Department of Pharmacy took the lead in the development.

“We are delighted to inform the general public that Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Must) hosts Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Center (PHARMBIOTRAC) one of the Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centre for Excellence in Uganda (ACEII) in Uganda that is fully sponsored by the Government of Uganda through a loan from the World Bank to promote herbal and natural products technologies in Africa,” Must vice Chancellor Prof Obua said in a June 14 statement.

“Additionally, PHARMBIOTRAC got more funding from the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) to support the development of herbal products in response to the Covid19 pandemic in the country.”

The University claimed Covidex herbal medicine formula had leaked.

Unscrupulous Ugandans had produced the medicine and started selling it on the market for tens of thousands of Uganda Shillings.

“The product was considered an excellent potential herbal medicine and we were advised to go ahead and follow the normal procedures of approval according to the procedures on drug development and production in Uganda. Unfortunately, the product was leaked to the market before going through all the required procedures,” said Prof Obua.

“At MUST, we value the safety of the population and wish to follow the right procedures guided by the national regulatory and certification bodies including NDA and UNBS in the country.”

Obua added: “We would therefore like to request the general public to be patient and allow this product to undergo all the necessary procedures including laboratory tests, animal tests, clinical trials, production agreements, certification, registration and licensing before the product can be put on the market for sale.”

NDA rushed to warn Ugandans against using the herbal medicine.

“NDA informs the public that it has not taken any assessment or approved Covidex, neither has it received any application from the innovator of the Covidex as required by National Drug Policy and Act cap 206,” the medicines regulator said in a statement.

“To avoid getting or spreading Covid-19, NDA reminds the public to always wear a mask, wash hands with soap and water or sanitize and maintain social distance.”

Last week, NDA summoned Prof Patrick Engeu Ogwang of the Must Pharmacy Department to explain why he had failed to follow the right procedures.

The professor agreed to change the name of the medicine and to follow the process of approval.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) also pledged support for Prof Ogwang in s ensuring the certification of Covidex.

WHO IS THE TRUE OWNER OF UGANDA’S COVIDEX HERBAL MEDICINE?

But who exactly owns the intellectual rights to Covidex herbal medicine?

There is no clarity on who the true owner of the Covid19 treatment herbal medicine.

On June 14, NDA said it had “learnt with concern the promotion and sale of Covidex manufactured by Jenah Herbals (U) Ltd.”

In a statement after meeting NDA, Prof Ogwang issued a statement saying Covidex is “a formula developed by me.”

Yet Must says “any third party interested in the production, distribution or sale of Covidex herbal medicine with out prejudice is hereby asked to desist from negotiating deals with any individual other than the university authority who is the holder of the Intellectual Property Rights for this product, and for the avoidance of any doubts, in this case Mbarara University of Science and Technology authority.”

The university has since warned PSU and Jena Herbals U Ltd to be careful on dealing with Prof Ogwang and on the sale of Covidex.

“The Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU) is hereby advised to work with Mbarara University of Science and Technology if they are interested in working with Prof Patrick Ogwang and the team who have developed Covidex, but not at the exclusion of MUST, the IP owners of the product,” Obua wrote.

“Jena Herbals (U) Ltd is hereby put on notice to stop any production, distribution or sale of Covidex without the express permission of Mbarara University of Science and Technology who is the IP holder of the product. Stand warned.”