Good News! Nigeria Finally approves use of experimental drug, Zmapp, on Ebola patients!

The National Health Research Ethics
Committee, Nigeria, has approved the use of
an experimental Ebola drug
, Zmapp, for
treatment of patients infected with the virus.
The committee, which composed research
scientists, is a national body under the
Federal Ministry of Health.
The endorsement is contained in a statement
issued to newsmen by Prof. Clement
Adebamowo, Chairman of the committee on
Wednesday in Abuja. Continue...
The decision by the committee is coming on
the heels of Tuesday’s approval by the World
Health Organisation (WHO) on the use of
Zmapp for treatment of Ebola patients.
“It is ethical to use these treatments in the
current situation without first submitting an
application to National, State or Institutional
Health Research Ethics Committee for prior
review and approval.
“In addition, the Committee waives the
current requirement that international
shipment of any biological samples out of
Nigeria should be preceded by the
establishment of a Materials Transfer
Agreement.
“This waiver is to promote rapid
international response to this global
emergency,’’ the statement said.
In the statement, the Nigerian National Code
for Health Research Ethics emphasised that
all innovative and non-validated treatments
should be carefully and adequately
documented.
According to the statement, the
documentation can form the basis for clinical
trials of the efficacy and side effects of the
treatment according to established scientific
principles.
In the statement, the ethics committee
enjoined all agencies, development partners
and research scientists to follow the
guideline for the rapid resolution of the
current emergency.
“The guideline will contribute to
preparedness in case of future occurrences
and contribution to scientific knowledge.
“It must be noted that all Phase O and Phase
I Clinical Trials that may subsequently be
designed for treatment of this infection can
be approved only by the National Health
Research Ethics Committee,’’ it said.