BIU Professor discovers cancer treatment
A major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and prostate enlargement may have been discovered following announcement of a new drug for the treatment of the ailments by the Ag. Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Professor Ernest B. Izevbigie.
He made the announcement at a press briefing organized by the University to announce the discovery, adding that the medicines, which are nature-based, have little or no toxicity, as is usually found in such drugs. Prof. Izevbigie who announced the breakthrough, stated that the medicines which were made from the bitter leaf (vernonia amygdalina), have been certified by the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and have been internationally accepted, as the National Academy of Inventors (NIA) have endorsed it.
“We started out in 2000 making initial observation. In 2001, we applied for provisional patent, and after one year we were assigned to a patent officer, and we were awarded patent in 2003. In 2005, we isolated two other products, and had to get patents for each.
“The patent gives us 18 years sole ownership. After three years, we came up with the right formulation to venture into commercial manufacturing. From 2008, we went into the market. So we have been on ground in Nigeria for 13 years, and 8 in the United States,” Prof. Izevbigie also disclosed that he received two U.S. patents for Edotide in 2009 for the treatment of cancer and diabetes. Edotide can suppress, kill, or delay cancerous cells, and it reduces blood glucose by 50% in mammals.