Kemron being sold clandestinely — Ngilu

[Guest guest]

Folks,

Is this fair game?

Chifu

http://www.kentimes.com/nwsstory/news3.html

Kemron being sold clandestinely — Ngilu

By Kenya News Agency

KEMRON, an HIV retroviral drug discovered and researched in Kenya

is being sold internationally under a different name and with no

recognition accorded to the Kenyan scientists.

This shocking revelation was made in Geneva, Switzerland, by Mrs

Charity Ngilu, while attending the World Health Assembly.

The drug, which is being marketed by a Swiss company under the

brand name " Immunoplex -N " was first researched at the Kenya Medical

Research Institute (KEMRI) by Kenyan scientists, and given the brand

name KEMRON.

According to the Director of KEMRI Dr Davy Koech, who is

accompanying the minister , the drug was patented in 1991 as a low

dosage drug for vital infections, including HIV,hepatitis and

herpes.The patent holders are Dr Koech ,Prof Arthur Obel and an

American Scientist, Dr ph Cummins.

Mrs Ngilu said that the government would allow the drug to be

marketed in Kenya if due credit was given to the Kenyans of if the

Swiss company could show proof of the research they had done on the

drug.

The minister pointed out that although HIV/AIDs had taken its

toll on the Kenyan population, anti retroviral drugs could prolong

the lives of those infected and improve their quality of life.

The minister said that the government had entered into talks with

donors and expected some money from global funds to tackle the

HIV/AIDS pandemic in Kenya.

Dr Muga ,Director of Medical Services, who is also in the

minister's entourage assured Kenyans and the international community

that no case of the SARS had been reported in Kenya and that the

government was screening people coming into the country from areas

affected by the Virus, to ensure that the country remains SARS free.