A former Special Adviser on Media to the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, has said many journalists failed to appreciate the delicate and sensitive nature of his job, as they pestered him to react to some national issues while he held the post.

He said this on Monday in Abeokuta on the sideline of the 2015 annual lecture of the Ogun State Correspondents’ chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Abati, who had earlier spoken on the theme, ‘Media and Economic Renaissance,’ said some journalists covering the State House did complain that he would not pick their calls whenever they wanted to get his reactions.

He noted that some of them failed to realise that he was a government spokesman and not a ‘journalist’ at that point in time, as they still expected his scathing criticisms and personal conviction.

He said, “Once you are in government, you are no more a journalist. It’s just like a royal court, the king does not go out there, he sends someone to deliver his message to the people. You are an agent to a principal.

“The job of a government spokesman is delicate and sensitive. If you are a careless spokesperson, you will blow up a country. It is not everything that a hunter sees in the bush that he talks about.

“But my colleagues, the journalists, still wanted me to talk as Abati, the columnist or Abati as a panelist in Patito’s Gang. Loquacity is not an asset when you are a government spokesman.”

Dwelling on the topic of the lecture, Abati called on media owners and journalists to be abreast of the economic policies of government, since such policies would affect them and their organisations.

He said, “We must prioritise issues of economic diversification. We must be interested in economic policies, we must acquire the skills to interrogate and analyse economic policies and we must interrogate people at the helm of affairs so that we can be crusaders of good society.”

He urged journalists to put political office holders on their toes to implement viable economic policies for national development.

Abati, who was the former chairman, The Guardian Newspaper Editorial Board, noted that most of the past economic policies put up by successive governments failed due to lack of dedication and continuity on the part of public office holders.

He bemoaned the idea of a new administration wanting to start everything afresh even when the immediate past government had some viable projects and programmes that would put the country on the path of sustainable development.

He said former President Jonathan introduced over 60 economic reforms which, he claimed, had been discarded by the incumbent administration, noting such lack of continuity in economic policies would breed socio-political instability.

He noted that the agricultural policy of the Jonathan administration dwelt on the entire value chain in that sector.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, the CEO of Rock City FM and a former Commissioner for Information in Ogun State, Mr. Niran Malaolu, advised journalists to stop ‘crucifying’ their colleagues when they were appointed as commissioners, advisers, or senior special assistants.

Rather, he said, they should support them and make them succeed.

SOURCE: http://www.punchng.com/news/i-wasnt-a-journalist-as-jonathans-spokesperson-abati/

Hello all, I presently live in South Africa and I am into Medical Education consultancy. I am here to share my knowledge about what I know about Medical and Nursing schools, Community Health Training and short medical courses in South Africa FREE of charge. How Nigerians and everyone can benefit. No Calls, no emails. Everything will be discussed here for the benefits of ALL.

Xymc1:
How much will it cost to travel to South Africa and how much would it cost to study medicine?

The Tuition fees for Medical schools in SA vary from one school to the other. However, it is an average of 50,000 rands per year or more. The requirements also differ. You need to contact the respective schools for their rate. Here are some of the universities that offer Medicine in South Africa:

University of Cape Town
University of the Free State
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Sefako Makgatho Health sciences University
University of Pretoria
University of Stellenbosch
Walter Sisulu University
University of the Witwatersrand

I am not in the picture. The picture is from the internet. Thanks.

journerman:
Are you in the picture above OP

Hello all, I presently live in South Africa and I am into Medical Education consultancy. I am here to share my knowledge about what I know about Medical and Nursing schools, Community Health Training and short medical courses in South Africa FREE of charge. How Nigerians and everyone can benefit. No Calls, no emails. Everything will be discussed here for the benefits of ALL.

This is more interesting than 'The trial of Bro Jero'

Good one. The world needs more health workers.

I hope baba will choose credible people. I wont be surprised if Fashola and Ameachi names are not there.

FTC here I come. ... sorry LadyF

naija2dabone:
For those who have the details:

1. What is his net worth?

2. What is his total liabilities?

3. Was his assets held in his wife name stated

4. Was his wife the £10m 'inauguration wrist watch' included?

5. How did the 150 presidential cows suddently increased to 227 cows?

6. How did "I have only 1 million in my bank accounts" now grow to 30 million

7. A 'land somewhere' in PH? like seriously he doesnt know where the land is?

8. Was Union bank that gave him the N27 Million loan for APC nomination form as he claimed then?

9. Mud houses? Pictures pls

10. Cars as gift....ok from who? Amaechi? Fashola? Tinubu? or .....

Now your wailing continues till 2023.

Yevgeny:



So you want someone that will rent a house and you still want to control how many girls they bring to the place?

So u want a place to turn to an "hotel"??

THIS OFFER HAS CLOSED

JOB TITLE: International Admissions Recruitment Officer.
Division: International Education
Category: Support Staff
Location: Maryland, Lagos.
Full/Part Time: Full Time

JOB DESCRIPTION:

-Provide informational services (in groups, person, on the phone, or via email) to prospective students and families.
-Assesses and processes international applications by determining international applicant eligibility for admission to College programs and issuing acceptance, test, rejection letters and invoices.
- Provides support at different campuses to facilitate the quick admit process (including possibly overseas).
- Responds to all applicant or agent admissions-specific enquires received by email, phone, or in person to ensure accurate information and direction is provided on a variety of issues.
- Processes documents pertaining to admissions, withdrawals and refunds.
- Consults with the College divisions and Registrar’s Office as required regarding admissions requirements, program starts, student transfer, withdrawals, exemptions, advance standing and selection conforming to academic rules and regulations.
- Maintains up-to-date knowledge related to the College’s programs, admissions policies and procedures.
- Monitors student intake in order to meet College enrollment targets for international students and meet processing deadlines and standards without exceeding established capacities.
- Creates, organizes and maintains accurate electronic and hard copy records for all international students.
- Supports admissions-related process/systems improvement and projects and their related duties as assigned.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
-Advises unsuccessful applicants of alternative courses of action.

Qualifications

- Completion of an OND, Bsc or HND Degree from a recognized/accredited university in a any field of study.
- Minimum two years office experience in providing high level, empathetic customer service to a diverse clientele in a service/educational setting.
- Advanced skills in the use of Microsoft Office applications; excellent knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets and relational databases.
- Strong verbal and written English communication skills, including cross-cultural sensitivity.
- High degree of commitment to customer service/support; well-developed interpersonal skills.
- Written and spoken proficiency/fluency.
- Exceptional problem solving skills; ability to troubleshoot and resolve conflict while exercising tact, discretion and sound judgment; ability to prioritize.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills; ability to cope under pressure associated with the management of numerous high volume tasks in a busy service environment; high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to work both independently and as a team member.
- Ability to travel to different campuses and travel abroad as required.
- Ability to work in an environment where a diversity of people and situations is encountered.

We need the services of an health information officer, either male or female in Maryland Lagos. He/she will be giving our clients relevant information about careers in Medicine and the Health sector. He/she will also be assigned to support our team in our health information campaigns to begin soon. A good knowledge/experience of the health sector is an advantage. Interested persons to send CV to valuemedic.edu@gmail.com

Even if he goes to the space to conduct the election, SaiBuhari will still win. #Change

Google deleting Linda Ikeji's blog...

How time flies... GMB 2015

it is well...

Source: [url]www.valuemedic.com.ng
[/url]
Valuemedic.org, owned and operated by ValueMedic Professionals Ltd is Nigeria’s 1st and only all-medical schools admission consultant, redefining medical education in Africa through networks of universities worldwide, breeding medical professionals with great value. We are committed to assisting new students and professionals in the medical profession find a career path and grow successfully in it by helping them gain access to top medical schools in Nigeria and our network of partner institutions across the world.

VISION

To raise and equip thorough-bred health professionals who will impact lives and change the world.

MISSION

To make healthcare services and facilities accessible to everyone across the world by assisting and equipping new students and WORKING professionals gain access to qualitative medical education in Nigeria and abroad.

WHAT WE DO

- International Medical university admission services.
- Academic and Career Counseling.
- Complete Travel information Package.
- Academic Advice & Skills Assessment
- Official University Representatives
- Documents Legalization & Translation.
- In-Person Application Submission.
- Application Tracking & Reports.
- Student Loans, Scholarships & Bursaries & Grants Securing.
- Medical Students advisory services.
- Student Visa Issuance and Advisory.
- Arrival Services, Escorting & Lodging.
- Orientation, Support and Meet-ups Abroad
- Opening of Local Bank Account.
- Preparatory Classes for Future Medical Students.
- Professional Training, workshops, conferences for Health workers.

COUNTRIES:

Our partner medical and nursing schools cut across the following countries USA, UK, Cyprus, China, Georgia, Belarus, South Africa, India, Hungary, Russia, Maurutius etc

COURSES:

Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, Physiotherapy etc

ACCREDITATION

All our partner schools and courses accredited and registered with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministries of Health in their respective countries. Therefore, all our students have the unique opportunities of WORKING anywhere in the world after graduation.

THE VALUEMEDIC ADVANTAGE AND UNIQUENESS

- With our solid partnerships around the world, you can enjoy the following:
- Experienced hands-on professional handling of admission processing to any Medical institution in the world.
- Dedicated follow up on all admission, Visa and travel arrangements. We do not only help you achieve your goals, we go through it with you.
- We help to groom prospective APPLICANTS who need some knowledge about their proposed course of study.
- We have official agreements with all the institutions we partner with. Therefore, we have a commitment to offer the best service.
- Vast resource materials and course materials for reference.
- Corporate Consultancy – expertise provided in any area of the Medical profession.
[b]


+2348144544927
[url]www.valuemedic.com.ng
[/url]
info@valuemedic.com.ng

Source: www.facebook.com/valuemedic

Have you considered a career in nursing? It’s a very rewarding career, both monetarily and emotionally. Making a difference in people’s lives and bringing them hope and cheer is not something that you can achieve in just about any career. Read on to know why the nursing career is so rewarding.

1. There is great demand for nurses at present and this demand is projected to rise by 2020, by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The job opportunities in this career field will be astounding for the right candidates.

2. Nurses make excellent wages; an average registered nurse makes more than $52,000 a year and more experienced and specialized nurses make over $72,000.

3. A nurse can work in different kinds of establishments, each offering unique work environments. For example, a nurse can work in hospitals, schools, home care facilities, government agencies, and so on.

4. Nurses can work in flexible schedules, and take up shifts as desired. Shifts are between 4 to 12 hours a day, and a nurse can opt for the best shifts to accommodate other side jobs or education opportunities.

5. As a nurse, you’ll make a huge difference in people’s lives. A caring and compassionate nurse is considered as a guardian angel by patients. This can be a very satisfying and gratifying career for the compassionate.

6. As a nurse, you get the opportunity to interact with patients, medical staff, doctors and administrators every day. This gives you the opportunity to learn from other careers and add to your knowledge base, while sharpening your interpersonal skills.

7. You’ll never know what’s going to happen at any given point in time. there’s constant excitement and challenge in a nurse’s life. You have the opportunity to make swift decisions, learn each day and never get bored, as each day is different.

8. Nursing allows for many career advancements. You can aspire to take on bigger roles, or even continue education to perform in different capacities.

9. You can change specialties and move on to a health care specialty that suits your better. For example, if you like children, you can work in the pediatrics department. If you like being on hand to assist in trauma cases, you can work in the emergency room. You can decide what you want to do based on your aptitude and your tolerance level.

10. You can work anywhere you want. Your skills are a nurse are entirely portable and with the right qualifications, experience and recommendations, you can shift to any state in the country and practice your nursing skills there.

11. You don’t need any equipment or facilities to do your job. Your skills as a nurse are universal, and you’ll be able to help others without needing four walls in which to work. Just like doctors, your skills come in useful when there’s an accident, or crisis. You’ll be valued anywhere you go, as you represent a person who can help heal illnesses and distress in people.

12. You can easily qualify to become a practical nurse and even a registered nurse. The best thing is, you can work as a regular or practical nurse while studying to be a registered nurse. The friendly shift timings help you to achieve your educational aspirations.

13. Your background as a nurse helps you advise people in general about how to live life in a clean environment. You can educate people in poor localities and also work with the homeless, bringing sanitation and wellness into people’s lives.

14. You can always get paid better by completing higher nursing or medical care degrees. As a nurse, you have many career opportunities that can be achieved via further education.

15. You can help care for the health of your family and friends. Your nursing education and experience prepares you to handle family emergencies; this is a definite advantage if you have children of your own.

16. You can work in the medical field alongside doctors but you don’t have to study for 12 to 14 the way doctors have to. With 2 or 4 years of professional education, you can work alongside top medical professionals and contribute to healthcare.

17. If something goes wrong with a patient, the doctor is liable for malpractice, not the nurse. That doesn’t mean you can make costly mistakes, however.

18. You can spend a lot of time with patients and build lasting relationships. You get the chance to meet some unique people and this will enrich your life experience. Doctors seldom get the time to spend with patients.

19. When a doctor picks a specialty, he or she has to stick to it, as changing the specialty means continuing education. However, as a nurse, you can change specialties and shift from pediatrics to trauma to cancer ward by attending an orientation training session and hands on.

20. You can start your career with a minimum amount of debt, unlike doctors, who have to spend a lot of money to graduate and specialize before they start making returns on their investments.


valuemedic.org is Nigeria’s 1st and only all-medical schools admission consultant, redefining medical education in Africa through networks of universities worldwide, breeding medical professionals with great value. We are committed to assisting new students and professionals in the medical profession find a career path and grow successfully in it by helping them gain access to top medical schools in Nigeria and our network of partner institutions across the world.

Source: http://www.valuemedic.org/top-10-reasons-to-study-medicine/

There are a lot of bad reasons to take up medicine, but there are a lot of good ones too…

Medicine is one of those colleges it is never too late to start studying. Whether you are already studying medicine or just planning to do so, you must have wondered what are the true reasons to enroll in this field, which is according to many the most responsible one there is.

Before you determine what field you are interested in, you will have most certainly pondered all the pros and cons of your potential choice. On the other hand, a part of you will not have contemplated a few steps – or sometimes decades – in advance, but will have made the decision in the twinkling of an eye. In the end there are no rules that would say one way is right, and the other one is not. Scientists have said that children as early as in the fifth grade already know what they would like to become, and that by the beginning of their college education they are only developing a vision of their future.

Once you have considered medicine as a possibility, things might complicate – the first issue being whether to listen to your heart or your mind. Our minds often impose subjective points of view of the society and our immediate surroundings, which will undoubtedly encourage us to choose medicine up to that point when we forget what our heart’s and our own desires are. In this article we bring ten (objective) reasons why study medicine.

1. Plenty of opportunities upon graduating: This reason is rarely stressed properly, but it truly is so. After gradutation there is a broad range of opportunities for future job. In case you find none of the possibilities appealing, you can combine them or invent your own path of further specialization. Upon finishing medical college you can choose to work in hospitals, science institutes, public health care or be part of the medical segment of some other science. There are doctors who are managing health care costs in economical sciences, or cooperate as a part of judicial sciences in proving medical errors and patients’ rights.

Be that as it may, do not worry in case you do not see yourself as a future pediatrist or surgeon; you have six years to decide what exactly you are interested in.

2.Working with people: A lot of students name working with people as their primary reason to study medicine. If you are a people person, medicine is the right choice for you. It is of vital importance to stress that to work with people you absolutely must have a great deal of tolerance towards endangered social groups, e.g. the old and disabled.

In course of your studies you will be able to improve this skill even if you do not have a particularly developed affinty towards working with people. During your studies, but also later in hospitals, you will meet a lot of people besides patients – patients’ families, medical staff, technicians, administrators etc. As a part of you medical training you will also learn not to form bonds towards patients and their diagnoses or faiths, which is an extremely delicate problem especially when it comes to children.

3. The ability to help people directly and make them happier: This was my main reason for enrolling into medical college. The progress of the human kind and civilization is the purpose of almost all of the college programmes. Medicine participates in this process in the most direct way. The most doctors would say that there is no greater joy than the one you feel when you manage to help a very sick patient or when a group of scientists discovers a new medicine for a certain disease. The ability to directly help the curing process is also a challenge and sometimes it is not easy to cope with it. For this reason your medical education will prepare you so you can land on your feet in 99% of the cases.

4. Team work: Medicine nowadays is based on team work. You will be divided into smaller groups already while at college and this will give you a chance to perfect your people skills. These skills will also come in handy later when you start practicing medicine; not only does a doctor cooperate with nurses and other doctors on daily bases, but he is also a mentor figure and a role model for his students.

Without team work you cannot succeed in the field of medicine, so if you are a lone wolf, you might want to reconsider whether medicine is the right choice for you.

5. Respect in society: Whether we want to admit it or not, doctors are always on the top of the social scale. Whether you go to the theater or to the cinema you should know that you will be noticed. Not downright like Dr. Oz, but a certain part of people will pay attention to you too. This also represents a great responsibility because it is not seldom that a doctor is also a moral authority, especially in smaller places.

On the one hand, this could be a problem because some cannot bear this responsibility and cannot come to terms with the fact that they have lost a part of anonimity that majority of people has. On the other hand, this respect in society is a major factor while choosing the field of medicine for some people. The fact that a lot of doctors end up in politics and continue their careers as politicians supports this theory.

6. A great need for doctors: World needs more doctors. The situation in Europe is really good compared to some other continents like Asia or Africa. There are also differences in numbers and need for doctors in different European countries. A lot of EU countries that have forbidden or restricted employment of foreign citizens do not apply this decision on doctors. In most cases medicine students get a job sometimes even the very day they graduate.

7. Safe job, career, and lifestyle: Another not quite irrelevant reason to study medicine is a certain stability upon graduation. This reason is becoming even more prominent in countries still coping with recession and in a situation where it is becoming harder and harder for young people to find a job. In case this is your decisive reason for studying medicine, be aware that this is not an easy or a simple job, but a job with a lot of sacrifice and personal investment. Nevertheless, a job is waiting for you.

8. Constant ameliorating: The end of medical studies does not mean the end of learning. Quite the opposite – your college is providing you with basics for further knowledge and skill development. Summits and seminars are often organized in exotic locations in order to attract as many doctors as possible. A lot of students see this reason as the significant difference in comparison to other studies and for this they point medicine out as a unique example of constant professional perfecting.

9. White coat: This reason might seem funny to you, this may not even seem like a reason to study medicine to you, but as something irrelevant. Nevertheless, some students look forward to putting on their white coats during practicing in class. White coat, other than being a clothing item and a part of doctor’s uniform, is also a representative of the order of the medical system, cleanliness of the job, and high hygiene standards. A tidy and clean coat is emitting a clear doctor’s attitude towards patient. Precisely these reasons make the white coat one of the reasons to start studying medicine.

10. Science universal to the whole world: And the last, but not the least reason is a great uniformity of medical science. Upon graduating from a medical college in Europe you can find a job and work in any hospital in South America or anywhere else in the world (unlike some humanistic sciences). Furthermore, the major part of medical literature is in English, the most of the medical terms are in Latin. You will get acquianted with English and Latin in the course of your studies so that words like vertebra or clavicula will be nothing new neither to you nor to a doctor on the other side of the world.

By naming these top ten reasons, I tried to encompass the most of the points that students of medicine name as their motivation for studying medicine and which are the main cause for choosing precisely this vocation. One should also not forget giving up free time which is essential for successful ending of this college. Just as there are these ten reasons for, there are also reasons against, but the final decision is for you to make. Sometimes all it takes is just one reason to make the right choice.


valuemedic.org is Nigeria’s 1st and only all-medical schools admission consultant, redefining medical education in Africa through networks of universities worldwide, breeding medical professionals with great value. We are committed to assisting new students and professionals in the medical profession find a career path and grow successfully in it by helping them gain access to top medical schools in Nigeria and our network of partner institutions across the world.

We urgently require the services of an IATA Foundation Diploma holder in our organisation. Interested applicants must have a sincere interest and passion for the travel industry, especially study-Abroad. Kindly send your CV to info@valuemedic.org

Are u an entrepreneur? Do u need an office space for your business? NESBURG offers office space in Maryland Lagos at an affordable rate of N25,000/month with FREE registration into its START-UP ACADEMY.
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Valuemedic.org is Nigeria’s 1st and only all-medical schools admission consultant, redefining medical education in Africa through networks of universities worldwide, breeding medical professionals with great value. We are committed to assisting new students and professionals in the medical profession find a career path and grow successfully in it by helping them gain access to top medical schools in Nigeria and our network of partner institutions across the world.

VISION

To raise and equip thorough-bred health professionals who will impact lives and change the world.

BECOME A RECRUITING PARTNER:

In order to further increase our reach in Nigeria, we therefore seek the services of independent agents, marketers and partners in our recruitment department. This is open to individuals and agencies who which to partner with us to recruit students for our partner institutions. Application is open to students who are interested in Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public health etc.

BENEFITS:

Agents/Partners receive commission payments per student recruited to us.
Agents/Partners receive discounted offers on other services we render.
Agents/partners get free advertising in our publications in Newspapers and online media.
Agents/Partners get first-hand information and access to all our local and international programs.

Interested agents/partners should send a brief profile of themselves to agent@valuemedic.org

We will send you an agency/partnership agreement which contains the terms and condition of engagement.

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martowskin1: One comment and already in FP, I wonder the condition of making FP....nairaland and nigeria....make I stop b4 I face band

Hand band or which one pls.....lol

A room self contain available at Mende Maryland Lagos. Its a BQ to a duplex.
One year rent accepted and non-negotiable. Serious occupants only. Agents should not call pls.

...

I came across this institute, Chartered Institute of educational management and administration. They have two websites www.charterededucation.us and www.charterededucation.org. But when I checked I discovered they only have one MTN line as a contact phone number.

Please does anyone know anything about them and their credibility? Thank u.

Nigeria is a funny country. Why not arrange the boys that won the award in the front rows and let all these potbelly, attention-seeking old men stand behind them. i cant even see anyone of them except the captain and alampasu the goalkeeper.

Source: http://www.dailytargum.com/news/university-scientists-find-unlikely-hiv-cure-in-anti-fungal-foot/article_86511a10-2fc1-11e3-9fb4-001a4bcf6878.html

A new study conducted by Rutgers scientists shows the cure for the human immunodeficiency virus may come from an unexpected source.
In a preclinical study conducted at the New Jersey Medical School, now a branch of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, researchers have found that ciclopirox, an active ingredient in anti-fungal foot cream, completely eliminates HIV in human cell cultures.
Michael Mathews, head of the research team, said the current anti-HIV drugs only inhibit the virus from spreading to other cells. Once a patient stops using these drugs, HIV often comes back.
Mathews, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Rutgers-Newark, said the drugs’ effectiveness is limited. Development of mutations of HIV resistant to the drugs is always an issue.
But ciclopirox avoids the issue of resistance completely. The team’s most recent work, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, reveals ciclopirox produces no rebound of the virus in the cell cultures.
“It’s the first time we’re seeing the prospect of killing HIV,” he said.
Mathews said ciclopirox inhibits HIV’s ability to disable cells’ altruistic suicide pathway, by which infected cells normally kill themselves to prevent spread of the infection. It does this by inhibiting the protein hydroxylase, which has long been associated with proliferation of HIV.
The team performed successful experiments on real and synthetic human cell cultures. Though his team has not completed clinical trials yet, Mathews said preclinical results are promising.
“It’s a new chapter in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” he said.
In an interview with Drug Discovery & Development magazine, Mathews said the team’s peers did not feel the same way.
“To my knowledge no one else has advanced the idea. … We can be pretty sure of this because of the stiff opposition we experienced during the review process at other journals,” he said.
In the same interview, Dr. Robert Gallo, the co-discoverer of HIV, said he is unsure of the research’s significance.
“I haven’t seen any results where they isolate [ciclopirox] and show it can be used systemically,” said Gallo, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Mathews told The Daily Targum he disagrees. Although ciclopirox is a topical medicine, he said it is possible to transform it into a pill or injection since the Food and Drug Administration has already approved the drug for human use.
He said his research team has already performed successful experiments administering ciclopirox via stomach absorption on animals.
Still, Mathews stressed the importance of conducting clinical trials.
“It’s in [the virus’s] name. It’s a human virus,” he said.
Now, Mathews said it is only an issue of time and funding. Theoretically, trials could begin in less than one year.
“We’re excited, but it’s hard to tell when we’ll get approval,” he said.
For now, the team has been working with deferiprone, another FDA-approved drug that has the same effect on HIV-infected cells as ciclopirox.
Matthews said deferiprone treats thalassemia, a disease that weakens and destroys red blood cells in the body. Unlike ciclopirox, the FDA has approved deferiprone for systemic use.
He said clinical trials involving deferiprone have already begun in South Africa. They have shown deferiprone works against HIV both in vitro and in vivo.
Mathews said the team skipped animal trials, showcasing a model for rapid development of drugs in a petri dish into forms consumable for patients.
The team’s work is only at its first stage. Co-author Dr. Hartmut Hanauske-Abel said the research team has only conceived a concept on how to terminate HIV.
“We have not made any impact on the pandemic,” said Hanauske-Abel, an assistant adjunct professor at NJMS. “We merely published cell culture findings.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 1,148,200 people over the age of 13 in the United States are living with HIV infection. About 50,000 new incidences of infection occur every year.
“Everyone who has HIV dies from HIV — [we have] no cure,” Hanauske-Abel said.
He told Drug Discovery & Development that he sees the potential in the study’s findings.
“All told … the approach may offer hope that a cure for HIV may be no farther away than the local pharmacy,” he said.
In response to Gallo, he said the team’s preclinical work and other studies have indicated ciclopirox may work systemically before and after infection, just like deferiprone does.
But Hanauske-Abel said the systemic tests have focused on another major disease — cancer.
He told Drug Discovery & Development a research group at the University of Toronto isolated ciclopirox and used it systemically with some success against a form of leukemia.
He also said a Louisiana State University group showed the drug rids cells of tumors using the same mechanism to rid cells of the HIV virus.
“The [PLOS ONE] paper suggests we change dogma,” Hanausuke-Abel said.