TheNewsGuru

Tag: Drug

  • India releases new drug for COVID-19 treatment

    India releases new drug for COVID-19 treatment

    India has begun distribution of a newly developed drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), to treat Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms.

    The drug reportedly reduces patients’ dependence on oxygen and hastens their recovery.

    It was developed by a laboratory of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.

    The distribution of the new drug started on Monday.

    The first batch of the drug was released by India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, and the Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan, in the Indian capital and would be initially used in hospitals in the city.

    Some experts have however questioned the efficacy of the new drug, saying not enough evidence has been published from the stage two and three of clinical trials.

    A variation of 2-DG has been used earlier on an experimental basis to treat certain strains of cancer, but has not been approved yet for that purpose, molecular biologist Rakesh Mishra said.

    Mishra, who has been involved in the development of the new drug, said it blocked the ability of the virus to multiply in certain cells.

    A significant percentage of patients in the trials could be taken off oxygen support after taking two sachets.

    Mishra said the drug was meant to treat those in early stages so that their condition would not turn more serious.

    The formula, known as 2-DG, went through year-long second and third stage clinical trials and was approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on May 1.

    The drug’s release comes after weeks of harrowing shortages of oxygen which has been increasingly required by patients during a deadly second wave of the pandemic.

    Scores of deaths have been reported in cities across the country including Delhi, Bangalore and the Goa capital, Panaji.

    This happened as oxygen supplies ran out at hospitals and home-care patients paid double and triple the price for concentrators and cylinders.

    While the oxygen shortage continues in some regions, the situation has improved, with supplies almost doubling since the beginning of May.

    Meanwhile, Indian manufacturers are increasing production and some logistical issues are being resolved as international aid in the form of oxygen concentrators, cylinders and plants is pouring in.

    India has an official caseload of about 25 million infections, second only to the U.S. and has suffered 274,390 deaths.

    Experts maintain that both numbers are likely to be much higher in actuality.

  • NDLEA arrests Lagos Ex-LG boss with cocaine, 145m on his trip to London

    NDLEA arrests Lagos Ex-LG boss with cocaine, 145m on his trip to London

    A former Vice Chairman of Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area, Asekun Kehinde Sakiru, has been arrested with cocaine.

    He was nabbed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, confirmed on Wednesday via a statement.

    It was gathered that Asekun has been on NDLEA’s wanted list following the recent arrest of some traffickers and drug seizures linked to him.

    “The long arm of the law however caught up with the wanted baron at about 9.40 pm on Friday 7th May 2021 while trying to board a Virgin Atlantic airline flight to London, the United Kingdom at the Lagos airport,” the statement partly read.

    “At the point of his arrest, Asekun was caught with a kilogramme of cocaine concealed in five pairs of palm slippers packed inside his suitcase.

    “He has been on the wanted list of the MMIA Command of the Agency in connection to a case involving one Azeez Adeniyi Ibrahim, who was arrested with 6.45kg of cocaine in December 2020.”

    According to the agency, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect London-based suspected drug baron is a seasoned politician.

    He was at different times between 2004 and 2014 the vice-chairman of Lagos Island East LCDA. He had also contested and lost elections for the House of Representatives in 2007 and Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015.

    NDLEA added, “Although he claims to be an international businessman who deals in automobiles, the investigation is yet to confirm that to be the source of his acquired wealth.

    “In the course of tracking him, the sum of N131million was seized from his account and another N14 million also blocked in the account of one of his traffickers, Azeez Adeniyi Ibrahim, bringing the total sum so far recovered from him to N145 million.”

    Reacting to the arrest, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA Command of the Agency for resilience and dedication to duty.

    He is also confident that with the support of all stakeholders, the problem of drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria will be drastically reduced very soon.

    “This arrest is yet another message and red alert to those still in this criminal trade whether as barons or traffickers that they will soon enter the dragnet of the Agency, daily being spread across the country,” he said.

    “If they fail to back out especially now that we are moving all out for the barons and the big cartels, we will continue to reign in the traffickers.”

  • Four men nabbed for drugging, gang-raping 13-yr-old girl in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Government has confirmed arrest of four men, who allegedly drugged and gang-raped a 13-year-old girl.

    The state’s Ministry of Human Services and Social Development which disclosed this said, the victim was later dumped underneath a parked vehicle near her home.

    The Ministry on its official Twitter handle narrated that, the victim was taken by the suspects on a motorcycle that was driven by an unsuspecting biker and dumped underneath a parked car close to her house.

    It however said that, the four suspected rapists and one collaborator have since been apprehended and moved from the Police Division to the State Criminal Investigative Department.

    According to the Ministry, “While the ongoing conversation on #SayNoToRapists continues, the monstrous practitioners have not shown signs of slowing down. In Kaduna, we are currently following a case of alleged gang-rape by a group of men on a 13 year old girl.

    “The survivor was, apparently drugged and raped by the 4 “scums”, taken on a motorcycle driven by an unsuspecting biker and dumped underneath a parked car close to her house. After hours of frantic search, she was found by a relative. She was immediately taken to the hospital.

    “The 4 rapists & 1 collaborator have since been apprehended & the case moved from the @PoliceNG Division to the State CIID HQ in Kaduna. After investigation, the men will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction. @HafsatMohBaba has indicated interest in the case.

    “The blame is on perpetrators whenever there’s rape. It is each one of us’ responsibility to ensure that we do not partake in, aid or condone rape. The 4 rapists haven’t heeded that advice & will face the music. @elrufai & the entire KDSG structure will fight rape to a standstill.” The Ministry assured.

  • NAFDAC clears air on discovery, approval of COVID-19 drugs, vaccines in Nigeria

    NAFDAC clears air on discovery, approval of COVID-19 drugs, vaccines in Nigeria

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has not approved any drug or vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19.

    The Director General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said in a statement on Saturday that NAFDAC had not granted approval for any vaccine for the treatment and cure of COVID-19.

    “To put the record straight, no drugs or vaccines have been given approval in the country for cure of COVID-19.

    “While the medical researchers globally, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Health Organisation (WHO), are working tirelessly on the discovery of vaccines and drugs to cure COVID-19, the agency urges the public to desist from making unsubstantial claims.

    “NAFDAC is the only authority in the country to grant approval to such drugs and vaccines,” Adeyeye said.

    She said that NAFDAC would continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to safeguard the health of Nigerians and that in the event of any approved drug or vaccine for the cure of COVID-19, the agency would not hesitate to inform the public.

    Adeyeye, however, advised Nigerians to comply strictly with measures issued by NCDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19, adding that these include the use of face covering masks, social distancing, washing of hands and use of alcohol based sanitisers.

  • China announces new drug to treat coronavirus infections

    China announces new drug to treat coronavirus infections

    There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the world and China in particular over the recent Coronavirus disease, COVID-19 outbreak.

    According to Reuters, China has approved the use of the anti-inflammation drug Actemra, manufactured by Swiss drug maker Roche, to deal with complications among those infected with the novel coronavirus.

    The disease has notably killed nearly 3,000 in China.

    Actemra, also known as tocilizumab, was first approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for rheumatoid arthritis in 2010.

    The drug inhibits high Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a multi-functional cytokine (protein) produced by cells which can be elevated with inflammation, infection, autoimmune disorders, etc.

    It has been used to treat cytokine storms in cancer patients during cell therapies from Novartis and Gilead Sciences.

    To understand how the drug can help coronavirus patients, we need to understand how the virus affects the body.

    The novel coronavirus—SARS-CoV-2—attacks a host’s lungs where it kills the cilia cells.

    Cilia cells are hair-like projections along the airway which help clear microbes and debris from the lungs.

    Debris from dead cilia cells then fills the airway, causing pneumonia and triggering an immune response.

    Although the immune system’s job is to target only the infected lung tissue, sometimes it goes into overdrive and starts killing healthy tissue.

    This may lead to worsened pneumonia, respiratory failure, or permanent lung damage.

    It could also trigger cytokine storms, which may spill over to the circulatory system with inflammation, causing multiple organ failure.

    The drug Actemra could stop these cytokine storms.

    Researchers in China are testing Actemra in a clinical trial, including 188 coronavirus patients. It concludes on May 10.

    Reportedly, Roche said a third party has initiated the trial independently to explore the drug’s efficacy and safety in coronavirus patients with cytokine storms.

    However, Roche is yet to get a nod from China’s National Medical Product Administration to sell Actemra for coronavirus cases.

    The novel coronavirus outbreak emerged in China’s Wuhan city in mid-December.

    Since then, the disease has killed 2,902 in mainland China and sickened over 80,000.

    Globally, the disease has killed 3,286 and infected almost a lakh people. This includes 28 positive cases detected in India.

    The disease has managed to spread to around 90 countries including the United States, France, Japan, UAE, Iceland, etc.

    (www.newsnow.co.uk)

  • BREAKING: Nigerian freed of drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia

    Nigerian, Ibrahim Ibrahim, has been freed in Saudi Arabia of drug trafficking after 3 years in detention.

    Freedom came the way of Ibrahim following the efforts of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Zamfara State Govt.

    “A delegation from Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Zamfara State Govt arrived in Jeddah with documentary evidence provided by NIDCOM for the trial slated for 18/02/2020,” Chairman, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri- Erewa tweeted on the issue.

    Details shortly…

  • Justin Bieber opens up on extent of past drug use

    Justin Bieber opens up on extent of past drug use

    Justin Bieber, a Canadian singer, has shared a deeper insight into his earlier struggles with drug and fame, ahead of the official release of ‘Changes,’ his forthcoming album.

    Bieber had previously broken silence about his drug addiction in an Instagram post he dropped in September 2019.

    But in the final episode of ‘The Dark Season,’ his YouTube documentary series titled, released on Monday, the award-winning songwriter shed more light into several aspects of his previous life, including drug addiction.

    Like in the previous four episodes, the ‘Yummy’ singer examined his early rise to fame and how such took a toll on his lifestyle in the fifth episode of the documentary.

    The gifted music star also explained his struggles after quitting drugs and how he was eventually forced to stop it when he almost died.

    “It was just an escape for me. I was young, like everybody in the industry, or in the world, who experiment,” he said.

    “But my experience was in front of cameras and I had a different level of exposure. I had a lot of money and a lot of things, so then you have all these people around me hanging on and wanting stuff from me, knowing I was living this lifestyle that they also wanted to live.

    “I decided to stop because… I was like, dying. My security were coming into the room at night to check my pulse. People don’t know how serious it got. It was legit crazy-scary.”

    Bieber, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease last year, went on to reveal how he has been able to move on from his past.

    He also expressed hope he would recover from his illness in no distant time while he works on “recovering” his body which has been abused before.

    “I’ve abused my body in the past and now I’m just in the recovery process,” he said.

    “I’m committed to getting better because I know ultimately being the best me is going to help me be the best husband, the best father, the best friend I can possibly be. And for all the fans that want to enjoy the music that I make. I can’t do it if I’m not healthy, and I haven’t been healthy for a long time.”

    Bieber is set to release ‘Changes,’ his fifth album on February 14 — after a prolonged hiatus from the music scene.

     

  • Cocaine, opiods, guns found inside Lil Wayne’s jet

    US Federal agents reportedly found cocaine, opioids and guns inside the private jet owned by Rapper Lil Wayne.

    The Sun Sentinel reported that charges could be filed against the singer.

    Miami Herald also reported that drugs and guns were found inside the plane.

    Lil Wayne flew into Miami on Monday aboard his Gulfstream G-V that was capable of carrying 14 passengers.

    Federal agents, including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a warrant to frisk the plane, detained at Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport.

    Miami-Dade Police had received a tip-off about weapons and marijuana possibly being transported on Wayne’s plane and then alerted federal authorities so they could obtain a search warrant.

    There has been no statement issued to confirm newspaper reports on items found on the plane.

    Amidst report about the items found in the plane, Wayne made light of the affair when he tweeted early Tuesday:

  • #FreeZainab: Nigerians protest as Saudi Arabian Govt detains student for drug trafficking

    #FreeZainab: Nigerians protest as Saudi Arabian Govt detains student for drug trafficking

    With #FreeZainab campaign – Nigerians have taken to social media to protest the illegal detention of Zainab Aliyu, a student detained in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.

    Zainab, a student of Maitama Sule University, Kano, was arrested after a banned drug, tramadol, was found in her bag. She claimed it was planted in her luggage by unknown persons.

    The student had travelled from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in company with her mother, Mrs. Maryam Aliyu, and sister, Hajara Aliyu, but she was arrested over allegations that a bag bearing her name tag contained the unlawful substance.

    Zainab, who was accused of entering Saudi Arabia with an illegal dosage of Tramadol was later discovered to be a victim of a cartel that specialised in keeping hard drugs in travellers’ bags, some of whom were already in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    The father of the alleged drug courier, Habib Aliyu, had appealed to the Federal Government, the Saudi authorities and the international community as well as well-meaning individuals to intervene in her daughter’s case and save her from being executed unjustly.

    Habibu had expressed outrage over the continued detention of his daughter despite the discovery that she was framed by some drug cartel.

    #FreeZainab: See reactions from Nigerians:

  • NAFDAC intensifies search for drugs made from human flesh

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has deployed its officials to all ports and select markets to check for some drugs imported from China which are suspected to have been made from the flesh of babies or foetuses.
    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, said this in a statement on Friday.
    Adeyeye said, “NAFDAC was informed by the Federal Ministry of Health on Thursday of some Chinese drugs that contain human remains. I immediately alerted the agency’s Ports Inspection Directorate to be on the lookout (for these) at our ports and borders since the drugs may be brought into the country as small packages.
    “The Pharmacovigilance and Post-Marketing Directorate has also been alerted to conduct surveillance in our markets. The Registration and Regulatory Affairs Directorate is also on the lookout.”
    Adeyeye said she had contacted her counterpart in South Korea since the news was disseminated by Nigerian and Korean intelligence agencies.
    In a memo which leaked online on Thursday, the National Intelligence Agency had asked NAFDAC and other agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to be on the lookout for drugs imported from China suspected to have been made from human flesh.
    The memo read in part, “The South Korean Customs Service, on September 30, 2018, revealed that it had seized 2,751 Chinese drugs/capsules, containing human remains from foetuses, infants and flesh imported into the country by some Chinese nationals.
    “The manufacturers claim that the drugs/capsules can boost stamina, cure cancer, diabetes and some other terminal diseases. The capsules were smuggled in suitcases and through international mail.”
    The agency revealed that South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety indicated that 18.7 billion viruses, including hepatitis B virus were found in the capsules.
    It described producing the drugs and consuming them as crimes against humanity, which could also lead to serious health challenges.