World’s first anti-HIV gel developed in Kenya enters trial phase

MK254 · Jun 30, 2019

Dr Peter Gichuhi Mwethera, director of Medical Africa Limited, in 2017. He is the primary inventor of the gel. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A gel developed in Kenya that can kill the Aids-causing virus is entering a critical trial phase, with at least Sh200 million spent on it in the past 11 years.
Patented in 2007, UniPron has been found to not only act against HIV but can also be used to protect against pregnancy by killing sperms and as a lubricant.
The drug developed at the Institute of Primate Research (IPR), a State agency, is now set for the final human clinical trials, according to principal investigator Peter Gichuhi Mwethera.
INNOVATION
“For the next and final phase, we have put together a strong team of academics, clinicians, investors and marketers,” says Dr Mwethera, whose team was early this year awarded in London for the innovation.
Dr Kavoo Linge, a consultant gynaecologist at Nairobi Hospital and the clinical adviser to the project, said they are already seeking ethical and statutory approvals for the proposed trials. “We are in discussions with several institutions with the requisite capacity and knowledge to carry out human clinical trials of the highest quality and ethical standards,” he said
If the human trials are successful, Kenya could be the first country in the world to put an effective anti-HIV microbicide in the market.
A microbicide, according to the World Health Organisation, is a substance applied inside the vagina or rectum to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Though currently such an applicable microbicide does not exist, one way it would work is by maintaining an acidic environment to protect against infection.
UniPron, explains Dr Mwethera, the primary inventor, has lemon juice and other elements.
ACIDIC
“It works by lowering and stabilising the environment at levels that are too acidic for HIV to survive,” he says.
The same acidic levels do not allow sperm to survive, hence its ability as a contraceptive.
Dr Mwethera explained that they have published 25 papers in peer reviewed scientific journals on UniPron, as well as generated one PhD and two Masters students.
UniPron, a winner of the 2019 Kenya National Innovation Agency/Newton Fund Award, was in February among innovations from across the world showcased at the entrepreneurial mentorship programme organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering in London.
In 2015, UniPron won the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Award and Africa Union Innovation Award in 2013.
“This is a product with global potential,” said Mr Stuart Nicol, an investment adviser who is consulting on UniPron for the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering.
UNIPRON
Mr Nicol was in Nairobi recently to discuss the possibility of manufacturing UniPron in the UK for the American and European markets.
“While UniPron has huge potential, for the time being it may be much easier to market two of its by-products that are already in the market to investors in Europe,” Mr Nicol told the Sunday Nation.

Because of the huge resources and long periods required to successfully develop and commercialise such a research product, Dr Hastings Ozwara, director IPR, said they had to think out of the box.
“Our biggest problem, like, thousands of other innovators in Kenya, was how to move the research from laboratory to the market — crossing what is called the valley of death,” said Dr Ozwara.
CLINICAL TRIALS
They then decided to develop UniPron’s lubrication potential separately because it did not require lengthy human clinical trials, unlike for contraceptives or a HIV-killing drug.
In 2010, working with Universal Corporation, a local pharmaceutical manufacturer, the scientists put two products in the market: Smugel lubricating gel and Smuscan ultrasound gel.
“But the ultimate prize is UniPron as an anti-HIV microbicide and contraceptive,” said Prof Isaac Macharia, a senior medical consultant and adviser to the project.

First anti-HIV gel enters trial phase

The gel developed by Kenyan scientists is set for final human clinical trials.

www.nation.co.ke

Nanren · Jun 30, 2019

Remember Kemron?

MK254 · Jun 30, 2019

Nanren said:
Remember Kemron?

The person who invented bulb had tried a thousand times before succeeding, nothing good will ever from you lazybones from Danganyika, you're mediocre and sluggish.

Janerose mzalendo · Jun 30, 2019

MK254 said:
The person who invented bulb had tried a thousand times before succeeding, nothing good will ever from you lazybones from Danganyika, you're mediocre and sluggish.

Lol.. Mara yangu ya kwanza kuona ukiitana Danganyika.
Huu mwandiko unafanana na wa mkenya fulani humu

game over · Jun 30, 2019

Janerose mzalendo said:
Lol.. Mara yangu ya kwanza kuona ukiitana Danganyika.
Huu mwandiko unafanana na wa mkenya fulani humu

Hehehe,
Nyie si ni walewale tu Wakenya? Huyu Mk254 anaishi Tanzania na kunufaika sana na neema za Tanzania, tumemfunza thanani ya utu na haiba njema ndio maana kidogo unaona ana ule utulivu kichwani, Amejifinza kujibizana pasi ya insult toka Tz.

MK254 · Jun 30, 2019

Janerose mzalendo said:
Lol.. Mara yangu ya kwanza kuona ukiitana Danganyika.
Huu mwandiko unafanana na wa mkenya fulani humu

Hehehe!! Samahani nimeteleza na kutokwa povu, haya majitu kuna wakati yanaweza kukufikisha ukingoni, watu wamedumaa halafu wazembe kupita maelezo, chochote kizuri lazima watafute jinsi ya kukipaka tope, jameni watafiti wamekesha siku nyngi wakihangaika jinsi gani ya kupata suluhu dhidi ya virusi vya ukimwi, na badala ya kutoa hongera mtu anaona heri aseme kitu cha kukatisha tamaa.
Hebu waza upo ofisini unafanya kazi na mtu kama huyo halafu changamoto ziwaibukie.

Janerose mzalendo · Jun 30, 2019

game over said:
Hehehe,
Nyie si ni walewale tu Wakenya? Huyu Mk254 anaishi Tanzania na kunufaika sana na neema za Tanzania, tumemfunza thanani ya utu na haiba njema ndio maana kidogo unaona ana ule utulivu kichwani, Amejifinza kujibizana pasi ya insult toka Tz.

Acha kudanganya mchana kweupe game over. Hakuna watu wanaotukanana vibaya kama watanzania. Bila shaka mmesomea matusi pale 'uMBEYA institute of gossip and insults studies'

MK254 · Jun 30, 2019

game over said:
Hehehe,
Nyie si ni walewale tu Wakenya? Huyu Mk254 anaishi Tanzania na kunufaika sana na neema za Tanzania, tumemfunza thanani ya utu na haiba njema ndio maana kidogo unaona ana ule utulivu kichwani, Amejifinza kujibizana pasi ya insult toka Tz.

Kikubwa nilichokiona Tanzania ni unafiki wenu wa kujifanya wastaarabu ilhali mioyoni mumebebeana chuki na majungu ya kufa mtu, hamna kitu nachukia kwa Watanzania kushnda hilo, mengine mpo sawa lakini hilo la kukenua meno na kujifanya marafiki na ndugu lakini mnakwamishana kimya kimya, lipo sana kwenu nililiona kwa asilimia kubwa sana ya Watanzania.
Mgeni yeyote kutokea Kenya akija huko Tanzania na aishi kwa siku chache tu, atatoka anaimba sifa nyingi sana za jinsi mlivyo wastaarabu, mnaopendana, na mnavyo onana kama ndugu.

Lakini kwa Mkenya ambaye atakua na bahati mbaya ya kuishi na nyie kwa zaidi ya mwaka mmoja, atagundua mengi sana nyuma ya pazia, atashangaa kukuta humo mnaoneana wivu wa kufa mtu, nimeshuhudia Watanzania wakikwamishana kwa mambo ya msingi, yaani ile tu kwamba ni Mtanzania mwenzie anaona bora iharibike, lakini yupo radhi kuachia mgeni hususan Mhindi au Mwarabu anufaike, nimeyaona sana.

Kwa Kenya tupo tofauti, sio kwamba hatuna chuki wala kuoneana wivu, ila Mkenya hatoficha kama akiona kasoro kwako, atakuanika moja kwa moja na kuisema wazi wazi, umeze uteme utajua mwenyewe, na hiyo ndio imesababisha Watanzania watuone kama watu wenye roho mbaya, maana hatufichi, tunakuambia kama ilivyo. Mkenya akifanya nawe kazi, tegemea kupelekeshana, hamna cha lelemama wala kumung'unya maneno, napenda sana hii tabia ya Ukenya, na naomba sana isije kunitoka.

mwaswast · Jun 30, 2019

Safi Sana najua Wazungu hawatafurahia Hii kwa kuwa kampuni zao za madawa zitapoteza Sana. Wengine ambao hawatafurahia Hii ni midanganyika ya CCM kwa wivu wao wa kijani.

game over · Jun 30, 2019

MK254 said:
Hehehe!! Samahani nimeteleza na kutokwa povu, haya majitu kuna wakati yanaweza kukufikisha ukingoni, watu wamedumaa halafu wazembe kupita maelezo, chochote kizuri lazima watafute jinsi ya kukipaka tope, jameni watafiti wamekesha siku nyngi wakihangaika jinsi gani ya kupata suluhu dhidi ya virusi vya ukimwi, na badala ya kutoa hongera mtu anaona heri aseme kitu cha kukatisha tamaa.
Hebu waza upo ofisini unafanya kazi na mtu kama huyo halafu changamoto ziwaibukie.

Amekukibu kwa maneno mawili tu ukamwagika povu la kutosha kwa paragraphs kadhaa.[emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]

MK254 · Jun 30, 2019

game over said:
Amekukibu kwa maneno mawili tu ukamwagika povu la kutosha kwa paragraphs kadhaa.[emoji2][emoji2][emoji2]

Kwa jinsi mlivyo, huwa vigumu kwenu nyie kupambanua kauli bila ya mtu kutumia maeno mengi.

Mwamaleki · Jun 30, 2019

MK254 said:
Hehehe!! Samahani nimeteleza na kutokwa povu, haya majitu kuna wakati yanaweza kukufikisha ukingoni, watu wamedumaa halafu wazembe kupita maelezo, chochote kizuri lazima watafute jinsi ya kukipaka tope, jameni watafiti wamekesha siku nyngi wakihangaika jinsi gani ya kupata suluhu dhidi ya virusi vya ukimwi, na badala ya kutoa hongera mtu anaona heri aseme kitu cha kukatisha tamaa.
Hebu waza upo ofisini unafanya kazi na mtu kama huyo halafu changamoto ziwaibukie.

Povu ni kawaida yenu ati ndugu zetu Kunyans almaarufu kama Dinyans

Tony254 · Jun 30, 2019

MK254 said:
Dr Peter Gichuhi Mwethera, director of Medical Africa Limited, in 2017. He is the primary inventor of the gel. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

A gel developed in Kenya that can kill the Aids-causing virus is entering a critical trial phase, with at least Sh200 million spent on it in the past 11 years.
Patented in 2007, UniPron has been found to not only act against HIV but can also be used to protect against pregnancy by killing sperms and as a lubricant.
The drug developed at the Institute of Primate Research (IPR), a State agency, is now set for the final human clinical trials, according to principal investigator Peter Gichuhi Mwethera.
INNOVATION
“For the next and final phase, we have put together a strong team of academics, clinicians, investors and marketers,” says Dr Mwethera, whose team was early this year awarded in London for the innovation.
Dr Kavoo Linge, a consultant gynaecologist at Nairobi Hospital and the clinical adviser to the project, said they are already seeking ethical and statutory approvals for the proposed trials. “We are in discussions with several institutions with the requisite capacity and knowledge to carry out human clinical trials of the highest quality and ethical standards,” he said
If the human trials are successful, Kenya could be the first country in the world to put an effective anti-HIV microbicide in the market.
A microbicide, according to the World Health Organisation, is a substance applied inside the vagina or rectum to reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Though currently such an applicable microbicide does not exist, one way it would work is by maintaining an acidic environment to protect against infection.
UniPron, explains Dr Mwethera, the primary inventor, has lemon juice and other elements.
ACIDIC
“It works by lowering and stabilising the environment at levels that are too acidic for HIV to survive,” he says.
The same acidic levels do not allow sperm to survive, hence its ability as a contraceptive.
Dr Mwethera explained that they have published 25 papers in peer reviewed scientific journals on UniPron, as well as generated one PhD and two Masters students.
UniPron, a winner of the 2019 Kenya National Innovation Agency/Newton Fund Award, was in February among innovations from across the world showcased at the entrepreneurial mentorship programme organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering in London.
In 2015, UniPron won the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Award and Africa Union Innovation Award in 2013.
“This is a product with global potential,” said Mr Stuart Nicol, an investment adviser who is consulting on UniPron for the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering.
UNIPRON
Mr Nicol was in Nairobi recently to discuss the possibility of manufacturing UniPron in the UK for the American and European markets.
“While UniPron has huge potential, for the time being it may be much easier to market two of its by-products that are already in the market to investors in Europe,” Mr Nicol told the Sunday Nation.

Because of the huge resources and long periods required to successfully develop and commercialise such a research product, Dr Hastings Ozwara, director IPR, said they had to think out of the box.
“Our biggest problem, like, thousands of other innovators in Kenya, was how to move the research from laboratory to the market — crossing what is called the valley of death,” said Dr Ozwara.
CLINICAL TRIALS
They then decided to develop UniPron’s lubrication potential separately because it did not require lengthy human clinical trials, unlike for contraceptives or a HIV-killing drug.
In 2010, working with Universal Corporation, a local pharmaceutical manufacturer, the scientists put two products in the market: Smugel lubricating gel and Smuscan ultrasound gel.
“But the ultimate prize is UniPron as an anti-HIV microbicide and contraceptive,” said Prof Isaac Macharia, a senior medical consultant and adviser to the project.

First anti-HIV gel enters trial phase

The gel developed by Kenyan scientists is set for final human clinical trials.

www.nation.co.ke

Hi story imenibamba sana. This is the best story I have read in many years. Invention is close to my heart. I am happy to see Kenyans making world-class inventions. Thank you MK254

World’s first anti-HIV gel developed in Kenya enters trial phase

MK254

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First anti-HIV gel enters trial phase

Nanren

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MK254

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Janerose mzalendo

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game over

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MK254

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Janerose mzalendo

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MK254

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mwaswast

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game over

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MK254

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Mwamaleki

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Tony254

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First anti-HIV gel enters trial phase