The battle for Intellectual Property (IP) Rights for Uganda’s herbal Covid19 medicine Covidex is on, between Prof Patrick Engeu Ogwang and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (Must).
While Prof Patrick Ogwang claims to be the true inventor of Covidex, Must insists to have the IP rights for the herbal drug. (See: DETAILS: Leaked Covidex herbal medicine formula funded by World Bank loan, true owner revealed).
A lot has happened since mid June when medicines regulator National Drug Authority (NDA) sought to compel Prof Ogwang to follow the procedures for approval of his formula.
For example, Must issued its warning to Prof Ogwang, his company Jenah Herbals U Ltd and other people engaged in the production and distribution of Covidex.
Then lawyer George William Alenyo filed a High Court application seeking orders to force Prof Ogwang to deposit all money earned from the sale of Covidex to the Consolidated Fund.
Alenyo argues that Covidex is a product of the government of Uganda since Prof Ogwang used resources and facilities such as laboratories and worked with Must Pharma Bio Center to develop the herbal medicine.
The lawyer even adds that Alenyo shouldn’t be allowed to take the money from the sale of Covidex since he is a public servant paid by tax payers.
On the whole, Alenyo says Ogwang isn’t the true owner of Covidex, a line of thought that supports Mbarara University.
Prof Ogwang and Jenah Herbals U Ltd have, through their lawyers of Omongole and Company Advocates, sent a notice to Must to back off or be sued.
Ogwang and Jenah Herbals U Ltd have told Must to stop its ‘fraudulent action.’
“The contract between Mbarara University of Science and Technology and the ministry of science, technology, and innovation is formed on three Jena herbal products yet our client was neither involved nor informed,” Omungole and Company Advocates informed Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
“We deem this an illegal and fraudulent action by the University and urge the university not to go ahead with the said action without authorization of our client or Professor Ogwang personally.”
The Professor also revealed that Mbarara University is using Covidex to tap funding from Museveni’s government.
The other herbal medicines Ogwang and Jenah Herbals U Ltd want Must to back off are: Jena Ds Xtra which treats dry cough, sore throats, and rhinitis, and Artemune, a supplement for HIV patients.
As Pearl Times News recently explained, Prof Ogwang and his Covidex face at least three roadblocks. (See: TROUBLE AHEAD! Covidex drug maker Prof Ogwang faces three roadblocks).
