Following the approval (by National Drug Authority ) of the COVIDEX herbal drug that helps in the treatment of Coronavirus, Mbarara University of Science and Technology has come out to push for ownership of the drug.
It should be recalled that last month, the University’s Vice Chancellor – Prof Celestine Obua warned Jena Herbals Limited, a company owned by Prof Patrick Ogwang (the Inventor the Drug) against further production of the product without authorization from the University. Prof Obua stated that the University was the Intellectual Property holder of the product. He also indicated that the product was developed under the Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre (PHARMBIOTRAC)
And now, days after the drug was approved by the National Drug Authority (NDA) for use in treating COVID-19, the University has embarked on a move to take ownership of the drug.
The development was revealed by the University’s Council chairperson, Dr Warren Namara citing that the institution is not in any position to lose the ownership of this drug that has broken through with thousands of people confirming its effectiveness.
“The Intellectual Property Right is co-owned by the principle investigator and the institution in which they work. Prof Ogwang should be supported to do a smart clinical trial and if there is an observation of serious side effects, the medicine should be stopped all the way,” Dr Naamara told Daily Monitor.
Dr Namara also revealed to the Newspaper that the intellectual property rights law will materialize in the event that the clinical trial is completed successfully.
However, Prof Ogwang has for the last couple of days made it clear to the public that the COVIDEX herbal drug was developed by him with aid from a team of scientists from Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
What remains unclear up to this point is who takes the full ownership of the herbal drug that has been proven to treat viral diseases, COVID-19 inclusive.
We’ll keep you updated.
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