NAFDAC approves Paxherbal for convid-19 cure, 21 other products under test

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on Saturday, disclosed that 21 herbal medicinal products which their manufacturers claim to be an immune booster against symptoms of COVID-19 were under processing for listing status.

The Director-General of the Agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, in a press statement made available to Vanguard said the herbal products if meet the agency’s requirements would be granted safety approval.

Adeyeye who further dismissed media reports that the agency has approved Pax Herbal CUGZIN capsule for COVID-19 treatment said it only listed it as being safe for consumers and not based on efficacy against the pandemic.

She said many manufacturers, including Paxherbal seeking for listing, had claimed that their products were immune boosters and anti-infectives useful for relief of symptoms that could be associated with COVID-19.

She warned that no clinical study has been done yet on any of the products to prove their claim of efficacy, adding that, NAFDAC was yet to evaluate them.

The agency further explained that NAFDAC only approves drugs to ensure that it is not injurious to consumers and not based on efficacy.

She said: “The listing status involves the review of the composition of the formulation, the labelling of the product, the process of manufacture and ‘Safe to use’

“NAFDAC is currently processing 21 herbal medicinal products for ‘Safe to use’ or Listing status. Many of the applicants claim that their products are immune boosters and anti-infectives useful for the relief of symptoms that could be associated with COVID-19.

However, no clinical study has been done yet on any of the products to prove their claim of efficacy.

“Listing status involves the review of the composition of the formulation, the labelling of the product, the process of manufacture, and ‘Safe to use’ testing.

“Most of the applicants that submitted herbal medicines that are currently undergoing processing have been issued compliance directives to provide additional information or/and evidence of Good Manufacturing Practice or environment fit for the production of the medicines.