African Research Firm at the Forefront of Standardizing Clinical Trials and Enhancing Healthcare
An African research firm, Xcene Research Limited from Nigeria, is taking the lead in Africa’s journey towards standardizing and localizing clinical trials across the continent. Clinical trials, which are essential for investigating the suitability of healthcare products and promoting well-being, are being shaped to better cater to the African population.
During a recent press conference in Lagos, Adebukunola Telufusi, the executive director of Xcene Research, emphasized the need for Africa-based clinical trials that consider the unique characteristics of the African people, as well as their potential to develop products that improve life expectancy.
In line with this objective, the fourth edition of the Impact Africa Summit has been announced. Scheduled to take place from November 30th to December 2nd, 2023, at Oriental Hotel in Lagos, the summit revolves around the theme of Clinical Trials in Africa: Strengthening an Emerging Sector in Diverse Markets Through Local Partnerships and Collaboration.
Telufusi stressed the importance of building capacity in the clinical trials field in Africa, particularly after witnessing the comparatively lower death toll from COVID-19 on the continent. She expressed the need for healthcare professionals in Africa to rewrite the narrative by fostering collaboration. The Impact Africa Summit aims to bring together professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders in the healthcare industry to create a responsive health sector that addresses Africa’s unique healthcare requirements.
Telufusi added that while global Clinical Research Organizations (CROs) may lack a direct attachment to Africa, local CROs have a stake in the continent’s progress and strive to ensure that the clinical trials conducted have a tangible impact on Africa’s disease burden. The Impact Africa Summit offers a platform for key stakeholders to streamline these processes collectively.
Yakubu Nyam Beno, the deputy director of the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), highlighted the increasingly vital role of clinical trials in safeguarding Africa’s healthcare sector. According to Beno, NAFDAC is developing a policy to enhance standardization through clinical trials for products manufactured in Nigeria.
Emphasizing the significance of leveraging CROs like Xcene, Beno announced NAFDAC’s plan to roll out a policy by 2025, requiring every generic product produced in Nigeria to have bioequivalence data, which aligns with conducting clinical trials. This means that to register a product with NAFDAC, submission of bioequivalence data will be mandatory.
Nneka Onyejepu, a senior researcher at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), expressed confidence in Africa’s ability to conduct clinical trials to global standards. She emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to ensure that research outcomes lead to accessible healthcare solutions for existing challenges.
Onyejepu stated, We have all the resources to conduct clinical trials according to global standards, and I am hoping that going forward, we would all ensure that Nigeria is on the global map for clinical trials. If we come together, we can take clinical trials to the next level, and it’s not just about the trials themselves; it’s important that the products are readily available to those who need them.
As Africa looks to standardize clinical trials and drive advancements in healthcare, Xcene Research Limited and other stakeholders are spearheading initiatives to shape a brighter future for the continent’s healthcare sector.
