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| Kenyan scientists among the leaders in microbicides research |
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             A Kenyan scientist is dashing to the finish line in the microbicide race, with the development of a gel that offers triple benefits-ability to kill HIV, protect women from pregnancy, and act as a lubricant. Dr Gichuhi Mwethera, the scientist behind the microbicide gel, has now ordered an attenuated SHIV 89.6p virus from America’s National Institute of Health to use when carrying studies in baboons. This combination allows infection in both baboons and human beings. If these studies and those in human trials are successful, then Kenya might just be the first country in the world to put an effective microbicide on the market by mid next year. During the studies on the product, five bamboons that received the real gel did not conceive, while all the other five in the control group (those that did not receive the gel) conceived. After sometime, those that received the real gel were exposed once again to unprotected and they too conceived. The contraceptive aspect of gel was also found to possess no side-effects, according to Dr Mwethera, the Head of Department of Reproductive Health and Reproductive Biology at Institute of Primate Research. “The manner in which I have formulated the product takes into consideration previous concerns about the side-effects when lemon juice is used in the vaginal canal.” With this success, Dr Mwethera and team have submitted a paper on their findings to two publications: Journal of Contraception and Journal In Vivo. Plans to get product into the market are at advanced stage, with the first batch expected in the market earliest end of this December or January, 2008. But Dr Mwethera says they will roll it out as lubricants first. “The gel will only trade in the market as microbicide and contraceptive once we have accomplished human clinical trials,” says Dr Mwethera. Universal Corporations Limited, the pharmaceutical company which is going to manufacture the gel, says everything is set for production of the lubricant. “The gel is stable and we are working on the final touches of how it is going to be packaged,” says Dr George Muriithi, the company’s Head of Quality Assurance. With a shelf life of between 18 to 24 months, a tube of 50g of the gel is going to cost about Ksh 60, price that is a fourth of what the cheapest lubricant sell in the market. “This product is going to be a success in terms of availability and affordability,” says an excited Palu Dhanani, the Director of Universal Corporation Limited. “It is the first time the company is working directly with a scientist to produce a lubricant and we are thrilled about it.” According to Palu, the company has the capacity to produce two tones of the gel everyday and can go beyond this in response to levels of demand. IPR Director, Dr Thomas Karanja notes that the institute is looking at this product with great interest as there is no proven microbicide on the market. “There exist a good model to test products like this at our institution and we hope with this one, women are going to be empowered.” So far, he adds, the results have been encouraging and the institute is going to look into ways of mobilizing resources to undertake human trials. Known as UniPron, this microbicide gel is made of lemon juice and other elements. With a PH level of 3.4, the gel works by lowering and stabilizing the vaginal environment at PH levels of between 3.5 and 4.5. At such levels, the environment is too acidic for the virus to survive. The same acidic PH does not allow the sperm to survive, hence the contraceptive ability. Every woman’s PH level is within this range. But the mixing of the man’s semen with vaginal mucus results in the levels rising to neutral or alkaline points (7.0 to 7.2), which is necessary for HIV survival and conception. This gel however ensures this does not happen for at least three hours, the timeframe within which the product is effective. Women who will be using it as a microbicide are going to apply different dosages depending on the size of their vagina. They are further going to apply it a few minutes before or during sexual intercourse. After three hours from the time of application, the microbicide will lose its efficacy. The challenge is going to be among commercial sex workers who engage in many sexual encounters in a single day. This is because if the microbicide is used several times in a day, it is going to leave the vaginal environment constantly acidic. Such acidity is capable of killing the beneficial vaginal bacterium leaving the woman vulnerable to infections like fungal. Dr Mwethera’s interest into developing this gel began more than six years ago. But he started his research into the matter in 2005. The government gave him initial funding of Sh 15 million to conduct studies in the three areas. Using locally made lemon and other parameters, he was able to formulate the gel and started testing its safety and efficacy in the baboons. Although most of the raw materials used were sourced locally, for manufacturing purposes, Palu says they will have to import them. “To ensure the right quality and volume of materials are available during production, we shall have to import.” The company is however thinking of how it is going to encourage local farmers to grow specific types of lemon if the projects proves successful. “Ultimately, sourcing some of these raw material like lemon locally is going to generate income to farmers as well as ensuring sustainability of our supplies,” Palu said. |
| Kenya Audio Visual Archives Conference |
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The African Woman and Child Feature Service, the Kenya Archival Study Group and the Ford Foundation office in Nairobi, Kenya will hold the Preservation, Conservation and Restoration of Audio Visual Media Conference. The conference will be held at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, from December 3rd – 5th 2008. |
| AWC at the Highway Africa Awards |
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| 2008 Accra High Level Forum |
| 2007 CHOGM |
| 2007 GEM Land Reform |
| 2005 GEM Beijing |
| 2003 GEM ICASA |
| 2003 GEM Bangkok |
| 2003 GEM Action |
| 2002 GEM WSSD |
| 2002 GEM Know How |
