Nicosan
Nicosan, also known as Hemoxin, Niprisan, or Nix-0699, is a phytochemical which was studied in sickle-cell disease (SCD).[1] As of 2017 it does not appear to be commercially available, as the only manufacturer, which was in Nigeria, has stopped producing it due to financial problems.[2]
Medical uses[edit]
There is tentative evidence that it may be useful in sickle-cell disease.[1] It however does not appear to affect overall complications or rates of anemia.[1]
Chemistry[edit]
It is an ethanol/water extract of Piper guineense seeds, Pterocarpus osum stem, Eugenia caryophyllus fruit, and Sorghum bicolor leaves.[3]
History[edit]
It was developed at the Nigerian National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) (U.S. Patent # 5,800,819 - September 1, 1998). NIPRD has conducted Phase III clinical trials in Nigeria which showed unclear benefits but have not been published as of 2010.[4]
In August 2002, a Nigerian subsidiary of the American company Xechem International,[4] acquired the rights to Nicosan. On July 6, 2006, the drug was announced in Nigeria, with the president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, in attendance. In 2008, a fraud complaint alleged that Nigerian public money was spent on the drug.[5] Xechem International went bankrupt in 2008 and production of the drug stopped.[6]
Footnotes[edit]
- ^ a b c Oniyangi, Oluseyi; Cohall, Damian H. (25 September 2020). "Phytomedicines (medicines derived from plants) for sickle cell disease". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 9: CD004448. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004448.pub7. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 8106534. PMID 32977351.
- ^ "Neglect of traditional medicine continues". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ Kotiah, SD; Ballas, SK (December 2009). "Investigational drugs in sickle cell anemia". Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 18 (12): 1817–28. doi:10.1517/13543780903247463. PMID 19780709.
- ^ a b Ndhlovu, Deborah-Fay (18 November 2010). "Funding woes afflict African herbal therapy institute". Nature. doi:10.1038/news.2010.602. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Sickle cell drug mired in controversy". Sci Dev Net. June 30, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- ^ "Nigerian Research Institute Commences Production of Sickle Cell Anaemia Management Drug - Nigerian Bulletin - Trending News". Nigerian Bulletin - Trending News. Retrieved 12 September 2018.