Amidst the raging controversy over the efficacy of the drug, CUGZIN in fighting COVID-19, the Chief Executive of Pax Herbal Laboratories, Rev. Fr. Anselm Adodo insists that the drug is potent. This is coming on the heels of the claims by the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Christiana Adeyeye that the drugs were yet to undergo clinical trials. Fr. Adodo, had in a statement made available recently claimed that NAFDAC had approved the drug which he said is an immune booster and anti-infective, serving as a good protection against viral infections. The news of the approval which instantly went viral had caused multiple ripple effects, with many Nigerians expressing joy that the drug was the long awaited herbal cure for COVID-19.
Their joy was however cut short by the NAFDAC D-G Prof. Adeyeye who said the drug was yet to undergo clinical trial. She said the claim that it can boost the immune system against viral infections was yet to be certified. “We received about 21 applications of herbal remedies relating to COVID-19. Pax Herbal is one of the applications that were submitted. The drug was approved for Listing status. We approved it for safety only; meaning that it is safe for human consumption. We cannot say whether or not it can boost immunity as claimed until it goes through a clinical trial. No clinical study has been done on the drug to prove its efficacy.
Until a clinical study is done in a scientific manner, no herbal medicine manufacturer can claim effectiveness to treat COVID-19 associated symptoms” Reacting to the statement, Fr. Adodo said a clinical trial may take a long process because no herbal drug in the country has undergone the process. “NAFDAC wants to use the same protocol meant for pharmaceutical drugs for herbal drugs. The WHO told them to develop homegrown protocols which they are yet to do.’ Meanwhile, information reaching us has it that the drug, CUGZIN, is already in circulation at some Pax Herbal outlets as many seek to buy it to forestall any possibility of complication arising from poor immunity; a major cause of fatality associated with COVID-19.
