₦airaland Forum

A bright doctor from the West African country of Nigeria Babafemi Taiwo is leading part of a major study on antiviral drug Remdesivir appearing to treat COVID-19, the potentially deadly respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 people around the world.

CNN interviewed Dr. Taiwo, whose name suggests he is a twin from the southwestern part of Nigeria, to discuss the promising results. Remdesivir, the antiviral drug made by Gilead Sciences, appears to help coronavirus patients recover more quickly than no treatment at all, but it does not significantly reduce death, according to preliminary data from the National

“For the first time we have a large, well-conducted trial” showing a treatment helps, he said. “This is not a miracle drug … but it’s definitely better than anything we have.”

Fauci said the partial results showed that the drug had “a clear-cut significant positive effect,” shortening the time to hospital discharge by four days. By comparison, antiviral drugs for the flu shorten illness by about one day on average and only when started within a day or two of symptoms first appearing.

In the remdesivir study, about 8% of those on the drug died versus 11.6% of the comparison group, but the difference is not large enough for scientists to say the drug was the reason.

No information was given on side effects. Fauci said full results would be published in a medical journal soon. He said final numbers might change a bit but that the study’s overall conclusion would not.

Dr. BABAFEMI TAIWO PROFILE
Dr. Babafemi Taiwo is Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago. He is also Director, Clinical Core of the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research, and Leader of the Northwestern University Site of the NIAID-funded AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). At Northwestern University, he leads clinical and translational HIV researchers from infectious diseases, hepatology, neurology, radiology, cardiology and nursing, and directs the development and implementation of NIH-sponsored interventional and observational HIV studies.

He has received research grants (to Northwestern) from industry sponsors for investigator-initiated studies. Dr. Taiwo is the Director, Research in Africa, NU Center for Global Health. He has been involved in HIV treatment, research, and training in Nigeria for two decades. His undergraduate education and initial medical training took place at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan 1991.​ He is Principal Investigator of the NIH D43 Multidisciplinary NeuroAIDS Training and Research Program in Nigeria

https://pepedem.com/coronavirus/nigerian-doctor-in-u-s-babafemi-taiwo-is-leading-major-study-on-remdesivir-covid-19-drug/

Yoruba AMAKA. Nigerians have always proven to be great if given the right environment. but then we're blessed with bad leaders.

Na Aboki spoil Nigeria with their born to rule mentality. That is why we are where we are today .
If only Yoruba can wake up we could have gone far by now but their own side of greediness is killing us .

Yoruba Youths please no amaka.

Military officers, lawyers, nurses, doctors, teachers were posted all over the world, we never cry amaka then.

Why now?

If he was in Nigeria, quota system won't allow him get to that position.

Igbo amaka!

googi:
Yoruba Youths please no amaka.

Military officers, lawyers, nurses, doctors, teachers were posted all over the world, we never cry amaka then.

Why now?

Igbo amaka!

Kudos to him and his team. I pray the drug turns out very effective in dealing with the virus. Those working on developing a vaccine should also double up their efforts. All hands must be on deck to defeat the virus as soon as possible.

Wow..... From UI


They get trained here and flee Nigeria because of bad governance.

I am privileged to work in a health sector of the state, and I know how Doctors complain bitterly about the ill treatment Nigeria system is giving them, most of them usually tell me how they intend leaving the country should any slight opportunity surface.


Even nurses are not left behind, they recount number of friends that have left to UK, and are enjoying the profession there

Yoruba amaka.

afonja making us proud.

Y

Nice one

But why?

Some of the good Doctors Nigeria has lost

Because we do not value ours

Great! Yoruba also doing us proud in foreign land.Keep it up.God's speed in finding a cure for this pandemic.

Wow

Good

.

Real Nigerian!!!

It doesn't reduce death, ehn....pls throw it away.....
I no wan die
I wan Chop life




Work on it Sha.....keep it up

Make us proud taiwo

while HIS mates are arguing and fighting for palliatives in NAIRALAND....

Great one from one of the great minds in Naija

baysherpsyche:
If he was in Nigeria, quota system won't allow him get to that position.

1.First, quota system won't apply in this kind of issue.

2.The problem with Nigeria is funding for research of this kind is not available due to limited funding for education and health, and due to the private sector not being large enough to fund such projects.(And a big part of the reason why is because Nigerians are not ready to pay for good education and health care, or to run the type of economy that would fund good education and healthcare)

3.If you notice, he is doing his research not under the auspices of the US government, but under the auspices of a private drug company, and a private university, thus quota system won't apply. Some funding comes from the government though

Na when the success come they see you

If a Drug really works, we would have known.

None have worked for now, although they might help.

They should stop hiding under bureaucracy and saying it is promising.

That is why I like Trump, He calls the name out strait.

Than saying it is going through clinical trials